FAMILY ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CO-OPERATION (FADECO)
PROMOTION OF SOLAR FRUIT DRYING TECHNOLOGIES AND MARKETING
1st QUARTER REPORT 2002:
1.0 Introduction:
FADECO is a local development NGO that is involved in Agricultural improvement,
Environment Conservation and Information Communication Technologies (ICT).
Since 1995, FADECO has been involved in the transfer of Post harvest management
technologies and marketing. The main concentration has been in Karagwe
district and mainly focused on post harvest solar drying and marketing
of solar dried fruits and vegetables. It has received financial support
from HIVOS
for the implementation of the above project.
By the end of 2001, FADECO had succeeded to transfer the solar drying
technology to over 50 villages in Karagwe district and to develop a local
market for solar dried fruits and vegetables. In response, FADECO received
a number of requests from other areas including Bukoba , Muleba, Ukerewe,
Geita, Mwanza and Kigoma. Other requests came from outside the country:
International network for the Improvement of bananas and Plantains (INIBAP)
and from high ranking officials from the Government of Uganda.
During 2002, FADECO planned to undertake a number of activities which
include: follow up and training of more solar drying groups in Karagwe
district; Expansion into other areas as requested; development of the
local and export markets for solar dried fruits and vegetables.
FADECO has received funding from HIVOS (TShs 4,850,000/-) for the training
of farmers. The DRDP has pledged another TShs 2,000,000/- for the purchase
of industrial materials (1,500,000/-) and business promotion (TShs 500,000/-).
Other funds are expected to come from training contracts with other collaborating
organizations.
2.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:
2.1 Overall aim of the Project:
To improve the sustainable socio-economic standards (income generation,
household food security and self employment) of the rural farming communities
in Karagwe districts through micro-small scale post harvest agro processing/
and value adding to their food crops and marketing.
2.1 Primary objectives:
-
Improve productive capacity of the rural farmers through transfer
of technologies and know-how in post harvest solar drying technologies
through training and establishment of demonstration centers.
-
Assist groups in setting up and running small-scale solar drying
projects as viable micro income generating enterprises by providing
both managerial, simple accounting and technical expertise.
- Assist in establishing market linkages and marketing facilities for
promoting and marketing dried fruits and vegetables.
3.0 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
3.1 Collaboration with other interested NGOs and Local Government:
In the implementation of this project, FADECO set itself to work with
other NGOs and CBOs that operate in different parts of the district. The
aim is to make a wider coverage and impact in the areas of operation at
low cost by utilizing available resources (human and logisitical). Also,
this would create a sustainable impact by having many trained extension
staff in the technology. FADECO as custodian of the food processing technology,
would intervene by providing necessary technical assistance, follow up
and market support.
3.1.1 ACHIEVEMENTS:
a) Meetings with potential collaborating NGOs and CBOs:
Meetings have been held and decision for close collaboration established
with the following organizations. In each case, Memorandum of understanding
has been established.
Name of Organization and area of operation (and target groups)
SAWATA Kamuli, Mabira, Itera, Nkwenda, Kagenyi, Nyakatuntu Support
to elderly and handi-capped
TCRS Bugomora wards, Kituntu, Murongo Support to Income Generating
self help groups which include women, youths and men groups.
WORLD VISION Rwabwere, Kalongo, Rukuraijo, Rugu Support to Children
related projects through income generation activities.
VECA Kaisho, Isingiro, Murongo Support to income generating groups
especially women and youths.
b) Other Organizations that have agreed to collaborate with FADECO:
KAEMP 20 villages in Karagwe district Seed Growers Associations
(SGAs)
MAYAWA Bukoba and Muleba districts Income generating groups: women,
youths and men groups.
c) Collaboration with local Government Organizations:
Following a series of requests and visits to existing project areas of
FADECO in Karagwe district, several other districts have picked the interest
in the technology. FADECO was able to participate in their district planning
process for 2002-8.
As a result, some districts have pledged to make allocations in their
current budgets for the promotion of solar fruit drying activities. It
has been agreed to train existing field extension staff in those districts
(capacity building) who will later be involved in further transfer of
the technology and follow up. FADECO will again provide needed technical
and market assistance.
Name of district and Project Budget allocation- 2002
Karagwe DRDP Promotion of Solar fruit drying technologies and marketing
of solar dried products in 5 villages of Karagwe TShs 2,000,000/- for
the solar drying materials and business promotion
BUKOBA DRDP Introduction of post harvest solar fruit drying technology
in 5 villages to dry esp. Pineapples. TShs 4,430,000/- for technology
transfer and farmer training
MULEBA DRDP Introduction of post harvest solar fruit drying technology
to preserve small fish (dagaa)/ fruits). Not yet known
UKEREWE DISTRICT Attn: Mahondo (DEO) Attn: Nyarubamba DALDO Tel:
2515081 / 2515002 Fax: 2500674 Introduction of post harvest solar fruit
drying technology in all villages with focus on mangoes. Not yet known
KAEMP Training of Seed growers Associations in 16 villages of
Karagwe district in solar fruit drying TShs 1,800,000/-
3.2 Farmers training:
In order to implement this project, FADECO set the following as annual
targets during the year 2002:
-
Train 15 groups with on average 10 persons for 8 days:
-
150 people trained during 1200 person/ training days;
-
5 groups on mango drying;
-
5 groups on pineapple drying and five groups on banana drying with
other NGOs (SAWATA, TCRS, VECA and world vision)
- Have Gender desegregated data on group members and persons receiving
training.
In addition, FADECO has thought of two strategies:
a) Training of trainers (ToT):
This would enable the project to reach a wide community interested in
fruit drying by creating a team of trained experts in the field. These
would be drawn from field staff of collaborating NGOs/ CBOs as mentioned
above.
b) Training of farmers:
Interested farmers (chosen according to set criteria ), would be trained
in the technology.
3.3 Dryer construction:
FADECO planned to construct a number of new solar dryers to increase
on the current numbers. This would enable it to meet its performance procurement
forecasts for 2002. The new types would be commercial brick dryers except
in a few instances where the small dryers would be made.
In Karagwe district the target is:
· 8 dryers (12 try equivalent) by end June
· 15 by end December 2002.
In other areas, the target is:
5 dryers in Bukoba
2 dryers in Muleba
5 dryers in Ukerewe
4.0 FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY POLICY GUIDELINES OF FADECO NGO:
For sustainability of FADECO, it was suggested to develop ways of how
the organisation can meet its overheads and also finance its activities.
FADECO will in the future training in food processing with the beneficiaries
contributing towards the cost of traing.
Memorandum of understanding for collaboration has been made with at least
4 NGOs (TCRS, SAWATA, World Vision and VECA). According to this agreement,
the collaborating organisations will meet costs of training of their beneficiaries.
A provisional agreement has been made to train its supported SGAs in 16
villages in Karagwe district.
5.0 EXPANSION TO OTHER AREAS:
As planned, an investigation was done in Ukerewe Island, Muleba and Bukoba
for pineapple and mango drying. A complete a report on it was made at
end of March. Plans for implementation have been drawn as has already
been mentioned.
6. STAFFING AND STAFF TRAINING:
a) VOLUNTEER STUDENTS FROM KIOF:
In February, the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) attached two
of its students to FADECO to train the farmers groups in Organic farming.
These are: Ms Rahab Wanjiku and Mr. Joseph Ndolo. This had been planned
because FADECO is striving to market its solar dried products with an
organic status. These students are on a six months initial field attachment.
b) New staff:
FADECO decided to co-opt Prof. Sylivery Ishuza as part of the technical
staff. He is been employed on contract basis and is called upon when there
is work to be done. Mr. Oswald Makanzu has also been co-opted and will
be in charge of farmers training programs to oversee programs in Nkwenda,
Kaisho and Nyakasimbi. Mr. Lazarus Peter has joined our technology development
section and will work with Marximillian Ngambeki in the construction of
the commercial solar dryers.
c) Staff training:
FADECO has participated in the several training programs
Organic Certification and Organic marketing - NOGAMU/AMFRI FARMS, Kampala
Research proposal writing , IFIPRI, Makerere University, Kampala.
7. Conclusions:
During January 2002, FADECO was happy to host Mrs. Catherine Des Wees
from HIVOS and Mr. Jan Van Geffen (NMCP-HIVOS). These helped FADECO to
draw up new plans. As far as the activities are concerned, a greater part
of the plans has been achieved. The rains have disturbed much of our work
and in some cases the training was either postponed or stopped completely
until the dry season.
Thank you for your support.
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