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Genesis Acaye
March 2025
TREE PLANTING TIME
Greetings in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen
It's a good time to catch up again and share what the Lord is doing here with the farmers.
The year 2025 has started quite well and we thank the Lord for the new year he has granted to us. The new year always comes with new opportunities and challenges. Sometimes it gives us time to try things that we have not done before.
I had the opportunity to visit a number of our previous participants who planted the trees in the 2021-2022 agroforestry pilot project. It was encouraging to see how the trees are growing in and increasing in sizes.
I visited Pastor Okullo Andrew one of the beneficiaries and while sharing with him, he commented that we planted more trees after the pilot work, and he has also encouraged the son to plan a plot of land with trees. The son planted over 300 trees (Malina- one of the indigenous first growing species.
A number of families have now adopted and are participating actively in the planting of the trees as a way of investment for the future, provision of fuel woods and also conserving the environment.
I also visited Okwera Patrick who planted 350 malina trees after learning from his neighbor during the pilot project. While engaging with him, he revealed that he wants to plant another 250 trees this year and also integrate fruit trees around his home stead to provide food and income through sale in the near future.
There were a number of story that were mentioned by the farmers. Some of them use some of the trees to construct their houses meanwhile others sold some poles and got income.
The most outstanding finding is the number of people who are now participating in the tree growing especially the Malina specie, which is mostly being popularized for its first growing, native and resistant to harsh weather.
The biggest challenge with the farmers is the bush burning especially in dry period like this. Most fires are set by hunters, and the result is that some trees get burnt especially those that have not been weeded and taken care off.
Local leaders, development agencies and others are trying to discourage bush burning but is still a bit challenge in the region.
More trees should be encouraged and this year BMS is supporting over 100 households to plant trees in Nwoya District in Northern Uganda.
We have begun the journey and started with the establishment of the training site for the participating households. Other activities will follow later and we planned that each of the participating households to plan an acre of tree (450 trees per household).
Pray that:
- the participating household learn, plan and care for the trees
- As we travel, we remain safe on the motorcycle
-the planned works are all executed properly.
May the Lord God bless you all
Genesis