Within the maize training manual created by the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, it states that within Uganda, it is estimated up to 40% of maize harvest is lost between the field and the market. This means for every 20 bags, at least eight bags of potential food or income for the farming household is gone. This happens for a variety of reasons, including harvesting too early or too late, improper storage, pests, etc. Consequently, at the end of the growing season, Field of Hope focuses their final trainings for the women’s groups on harvest practices and how to manage crops when they leave the field.
July marked the beginning of harvest season. I have traveled with Joseph, Agnes, and Robina to present harvest and post-harvest trainings to seven different groups. A trend I’ve noticed within each group is as soon as Joseph or Robina finishes writing the agenda on a tearsheet, almost every member is pulling out their notebooks to start taking notes. They keep their notebooks out for the remainder of the training as they learn about the agricultural techniques to use in their business. This action of notetaking reminds me of one of Field of Hope’s core values: dedication.
Field of Hope describes their core value of dedication as a “long-term commitment to providing and supporting sustainable solutions.” Being in Uganda for over six weeks has shown the dedication of Field of Hope staff and the women’s groups to sustainable agricultural solutions. Field of Hope is committed to providing opportunities for the members of groups to learn and supports them from beginning to end of the growing season. The members are dedicated to learning and implementing what they’ve learned in order to have long-term solutions in increasing their agricultural productivity and preventing the 40% loss.
I’ve seen this dedication in other aspects of Field of Hope as well. Outside of trainings, I had the opportunity to visit students and see their dedication to learning about career possibilities in the agricultural industry. At one visit, they showed us their two cows they obtained through the Inspiring Students in Agriculture Grant. The group of agriculture club leaders explained to us how they use their free time between classes to care for the cattle and are thrilled to soon welcome two calves to learn more about youngstock in cattle production.
Additionally, this past week, we began working on the urban garden at the Field of Hope office! The urban garden is an opportunity for us to practice what is taught during the training and be dedicated to furthering our own growth in agricultural practices. Such as Joseph and Robina teaching me that mixing some charcoal in the garden bed can help balance the soil pH. These examples from the field to the classroom, to the urban garden demonstrate farmers, students, and Field of Hope’s dedication to Ugandan agriculture.
Meikah Dado, Fellow ’24
