This project is cutting across crops production, trees planting & its conservation and financial support directed to the 31 members of the association in Pangang community, Gulu district-Uganda in order to uplift them from an extreme poverty. It is basically agro-forestry where a lot of various vegetable plants and other crops are to be grown under the young plantations of fruits and other tree species with a well establish nursery at the side to supply the farm and outside members.
General statistics in the country shows that human activity is the main cause of deforestation, largely exacerbated by an acute level of poverty which stands at 26.2%. The 2008 state of Uganda environment report indicates that at least 1.2 million hectares of forest cover lost between 1990 and 2005 & deforestation has been growing at an average rate of 13.7% over the last 5 years, leading to serious economic destabilization, for instance hydro electric power fluctuation, land degradation etc.
We're starting by boasting up the production in the nursery & establishing fruits & trees plantation as we empower community through more training on the benefits of natural resources as well as strengthening the revolving fund scheme with part of the income raise from the sales of seedlings. Also, the crops grown under these young plants will form a strong food security for all our community members as they forget the destruction of valuable natural resources for economic gains.
These tree and shrub species planted as green belts and windbreaks not only stabilize water shads, prevent degradation of physical resources and environment, but also confer many direct benefits to the communities and individuals. Furthermore, in the medium term, the income from various fruit products would also gives empowerment to this community by providing a share for the household needs and other thing, hence releasing pressure from the existing natural resources.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
