Community Farm & Co-op
The Centre includes a 2.5 acre
Community Farm which has been operating since June 2006, producing crops
for sale and also providing food for staff meals. In 2009, an additional
1.5 acres was added. Crops grown on the
farm include: watermelon, tomatoes, French beans, egg-plant, lettuce,
pineapple, bananas, green peppers, hot peppers, carrots, parsley, cabbage,
cucumbers and onions.
The Community Work Programme is an important part of the maintenance of
the farm. TRC has identified and targeted a market supplying vegetables
and fruit to the major hotels in Masaka. Crops from the Community Farm,
as well as produce from local farmers, are sold through the Co-op.
Farmers Group
A Farmers Group was established in 2007, aiming to
raise incomes of smallholder farmers in the area. TRC, through the
Co-op, encourages farmers to grow more crops for sale in Masaka (the
nearest large town), thereby increasing farmers’ incomes. The farmer
receives 80% of the sale price and the remaining 20% is used to cover
the costs of transport. Poor sale prices, lack of a secure market and
transport in the area meant that many farmers had previously focused
only on subsistence farming. An open meeting was held in May 2007 with
30 local farmers who discussed the group and agreed to join it. Seeds
have been distributed on loan, with the repayment due when the farmer
sells goods through the Co-op. The farm manager currently organizes the
sales for the farm and Co-op. TRC also employs a part-time agriculturalist, Joseph Lubwama. Joseph
also works with the local farmers to provide advice and training.
For the last six months of 2007, co-op members received
over 5.5 million shillings
|
