The Maganzi have been farmers and poultry keepers for the last 20 years and farming has been their major activity. However, for all those years they have been cultivating on a small scale for subsistence purposes and all the food that was grown was for home consumption only and very little was sold to earn an income.

The Maganzi joined COMASA in 2007 and were trained in sustainable agricultural practices and poultry keeping. They have used the knowledge obtained in the training programmes to improve on their farm production. They also received training in agribusiness.

In February 2009, the Maganzi received an Agriculture and poultry loan of Uganda Shillings 1,000,000 (US $500) from COMASA. They used the loan to grow one acre of maize and one acre of beans and construction of a poultry house. The loan was used for the following activities; purchasing of building and construction materials, 260,000 ($130), labour for construction and building, 200,000 ($100), land preparation, 250,000 ($125), slashing, 50,000 ($25), pesticides, 50,000 ($25), improved seeds, 110,000 ($55) and weeding, 80,000 ($40).

The Maganzi were able to harvest 14 bags of beans and 24 bags of maize of 100 kilogram each. The harvested crops were sold through the co-operative to Maganjo Farmers Association (MAFA) at a price of Shillings 1,200 ($0.6) per kilogram for beans and for maize at Shillings 450 ($0.225) per kilogram. Out of this sale, they were able to get a total of Uganda Shillings 2,760,000 ($1,380), that is, Uganda Shillings 1,680,000 ($840) from beans and Uganda Shillings 1,080,000 ($540) from maize in the last harvest season. A net profit of Uganda Shillings 2,100,000 ($1,050) was received after deducting all production expenses.

They have been able to pay back part of the loan and purchased 150 chickens for the poultry rearing project. Through the money received, they have been able to pay school fees for their children and one grand child who are still in school. The garden has once again been cleared to cultivate 2 more acres of maize and 2 acres of beans.

It cannot go without mentioning here that there are many would be beneficiaries from this project but who cannot be assisted due to the limited funds that COMASA has. COMASA caters for a limited number of farmers who are provided with loans to carry out farming and poultry rearing activities. We are therefore appealing to all individuals of goodwill to assist these farmers especially the women so that they achieve economic independence and are able to look after their households.

For anyone who would like to help, please visit Nakyerongosa Project Room so as to check out the available tasks. We are very grateful for all the support and advice to Nakyerongosa village.