Update

I want to share with you the visits i had lately with Ojok David one of our local facilitators for the Church and Community mobilization process (CCMP).

He has been one of the farmers we support 4 years ago at Paicho Baptist Church and when the livelihoods and farming work was shifted to another place, he continued with his farming work to support his family. When the tree pilot training opportunity came, he participated in the training and got interested in planting tree and practicing agroforestry.

I supported him to mobilize the communities around his home area. Those interested in tree growing and agroforestry were registered and about 30 members came together. They were supported with potting bugs and seeds which helped them to rase their own tree seedlings and plan them. The species planted where G.Arborea and local indigenous variety of trees that is well adopted to the local environment.

At the time when I visited him, the trees were over five meters high and growing so well and fast. Walking through the village and interacting with the farmers was very encouraging. They have the trees growing and the trees are sign of hope for the future.

Many of them are very happy that one day they will benefit greatly from the trees. Most of the farmers are not familiar with the unseen benefits of trees such as modification of the environment through provision of shade and fresh air.

The farmers were very happy with the trees and pledged to plan more trees especially this year when the scarcity of fuel wood and charcoal doubled. The government have stopped the charcoal trade and soldiers are implementing the ban on charcoal trade. Price of charcoal rose from 45000/= to 90,000/= shilling in Gulu from August last month. Most families are struggling and those with trees are better and may cop up with the scarcity since they can prune their trees and use the branches cut as firewood.

The situation is an eye opener for most farmers and encouragement to those planting trees. If this trend continues then most family will struggle to put food on their table especially those in urban places. Use of gas is still very low, and the price is not affordable to most families.

When in the garden, the immediate benefit from the trees were alive, the fresh air, shade could be felt.

David planted vegetables underneath the trees, and he is also planting fruit trees such as Jackfruit and pawpaw (papaya). He said the CCMP training has motivated him to think of the future and plan for these trees and fruits.

He said his friends and neighbors are copying from him and also getting involved in tree planting, some of them would request him to help them with the spacing and lining of the trees.

With his involvement in the CCMP training, he said it has challenged him to do more. He said when he is speaking to people, he feels he should take the lead in the implementation such that he is the first to transform and people learn from him. He is one of the many who are laboring to cause transformation by showing the community that its possible through demonstration.

Pray that;

Farmers like David will continue to impact others to improve on their livelihoods

The agricultural trainings continues well and that the CCMP trainings in the different churches goes on well

The UK church visits take place well in October this year.

Blessings to you all,

Genesis