As devoted followers of the SGUW blog and programs may remember, we initiated our Agriculture work with a modest rice farming project across three villages. Teaming up with the WECADO women's farming collective and Mr. Steven Mulai, our concept was straightforward: SGUW supplies a sack of rice to a farmer, who then plants and harvests it. Subsequently, the farmer has the freedom to utilize the rice as she sees fit – whether consuming it, selling it, trading it, or replanting it. The only stipulation was that she must return an equivalent amount of rice to SGUW for distribution to another farmer, continuing the cycle and expanding the program.
The rice farming project has proved to be sustainable, scalable and a wild success. We have more than doubled the number of farmers participating and have expanded to additional settlements and villages.
All of our rice farmers have remained in the program, all are still planting rice and many other crops as well- such as cassava, corn, groundnuts, okra and peppers. In addition, the farmers have increased the acreage under production dramatically, thanks to the continued support of local leadership.
Tewoh and Aziz recorded these testimonials in Sumbaya village, located outside of Bo. These women were the first group to take part in the rice initiative.
FATMATA SINNAH
As the head of our pineapple farm group and the chief's wife in the village, Mrs. Sinnah has expanded her farm to include cassava and rice, using the profits from her rice farming. This has allowed her to increase her income and provide financial stability for her family.
SEIBATU SMART
Ms. Smart used her rice to sell some, pay her debts, keep some for eating and replanting the next season.
ELIZABETH MULAI
Using the money she earned from selling the rice, Ms. Mulai invested in purchasing groundnuts for planting, thereby expanding both her farming activities and income.
REGINA SMART
After selling the rice, Ms. Smart used the profit to buy corn and is now farming both crops, which has led to a significant increase in her income.
BINDU YAMBASU
She was able to sell some of her rice and started pepper farming.
SALAMATU BOIMA
With the profits she initially made from selling rice, she managed to purchase cassava and additional rice, resulting in the establishment of a sizable farm dedicated to growing cassava and rice.
MARIAMA
Sold some of her rice and used the money to start a coal and wood business.
MIATTA SANNOH
Sold the rice she harvested in order to cover the school fees for her children.
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