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900 farmers in Kabarole district, Uganda, benefit from garlic project
In Kabarole district, Uganda, around 70,000 households depend on small-scale agriculture for survival, however many crops have been grown without much success. Five years ago, FARM-Africa, working in partnership with the Kabarole district Farmers Association (KDFA) started working with farmers in the district to introduce commercial garlic production into the area.
Kabarole district covers the fertile slopes of the Ruwenzori Mountains, which provide the perfect conditions for growing garlic – a crop which needs well-drained, fertile soil to thrive. Garlic is a cash crop which provides a quick return on investment.
Initially, 800 farmers learnt how to grow garlic on their land to generate income. Five years later, FARM-Africa is now working with farmers to add value to the garlic they produce. Products now produced in the area include garlic oil and garlic powder, which can be sold for a good price at market.
FARM-Africa is also helping farmers to organise themselves into groups, which will not only allow them to share their knowledge more easily, but they will also be able to market their garlic collectively, allowing them to get a higher price for their products at market.
Through these groups, members have also learnt techniques which can increase their garlic yield, such as simple irrigation techniques. They have also constructed storage cribs where farmers can store and then market their garlic collectively.
Margaret, a mother of four, used to grow crops on her land without much success and earned around £25 per year. After planting garlic on her land she earned £300 from her first harvest alone! With the money she has earned, Margaret has been able to pay her children’s school fees and purchase an extra 2 acres of land: “I did not realise at the time, but actually garlic growing has enabled me to increase the production of other food crops because I now have the money to buy more land and hire labour”
Five years after the project started, 900 farmers, like Margaret, in the district are engaged in commercial garlic production and the project is going from strength to strength.
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