The project supports vulnerable families in Uganda’s Kyegegwa district to improve their food security and household income through maize cultivation.

Maize is one of the most important crops in Uganda and plays an important role in people’s daily lives as a staple food. It is also easy to sell on local markets or as an export product.

In Uganda, about 5.4% of the population (in absolute numbers: 1.4 million people) are infected with HIV. This puts Uganda in 11th place worldwide (in absolute numbers even in 6th place) in the WHO’s HIV statistics. Infected people and their families often have no access to clean drinking water and medical care, and because of their extreme poverty they cannot ensure the nutritional basis of their families. With the project, we focus on these HIV-affected households and train the adult family members in income-generating measures to be able to ensure the necessary livelihood as well as medical care. The direct target group consists of 30 participants. Indirectly, about 150 people benefit and their livelihoods are secured.

The 30 participants learn about maize cultivation and the correct use of fertilisers and pesticides. Seeds and fertilisers are then distributed to households to cover maize production for one year (equivalent to two harvests). Monthly visits to the participating households by our local partner ensure that maize cultivation is successfully implemented and that the beneficiaries are accompanied during their first cultivation period.

Our local partner on the ground

Toil and Promote Agriculture (TAPA) is a non-profit organisation and has been working to strengthen agricultural activities for food and income security in Uganda since 1998. In doing so, TAPA works in particular with households affected by HIV/AIDS and who have difficulty securing a livelihood for their families. One focus of the organisation is on supporting children who come from HIV/AIDS-affected households and thus represent a particularly vulnerable group.