Basasa Vangelina’s Journey to Sustainable Agriculture in Nakivale settlement.
In the refugee communities of Nakivale Settlement, access to agricultural resources remains a significant challenge for many women farmers. Basasa Vangelina, a dedicated farmer, shares how Shared Action Africa has empowered her with skills in manure-production and application and sustainable farming. Despite challenges with irrigation and pest control, she remains determined to improve food security and generate income for her family through farming.
“My name is Basasa Vangelina. I thank Shared Action Africa for teaching us how to make our own liquid and compost manure. SAA came and mobilized us in our savings and business group as local women farmers who were struggling because our gardens lacked the fertility needed for crops to grow well. Through training, we were taught on how to dig three pit holes for compost manure production. In the first pit, we place our organic waste for decomposition. After three weeks, we then move the decomposing matter to the second pit for two weeks. In the third and final pit, the organic matter stays for one week while decomposing. After that, we collect it and apply it to our gardens. This replenishes soil with nutrients and helps our crops grow strong and healthy,” Nibasasa said.
Vangelina has several gardens where she practices agriculture by planting a variety of crops. She has been trained by Shared Action Africa o look as a griculture not only as a way of reducing food insecurity at home but also as an income-generating activity.
“We take pride in carrying out agriculture as a group. As tomato growers, we have gained a lot although we are still challenged by the harsh weather conditions and because of this, we have to continuously collect water from the lake using the watering cans provided by SAA to irrigate our gardens we hope that in the near future, we shall buy a water pump such that we can pump water from the lake to water the vegetable gardens and also rent out our pump to other groups and earn an income.,” said Vangelina.