Current Status of the UPFORD Program
After conducting a baseline survey identifying resources, capacities, vulnerabilities and aspirations in Nnindye, the UPFORD program held a series of workshops and community meetings in Nnindye to determine the following seven priorities:
Starting with Agriculture
Matoke: a banana plant and staple Ugandan food
Nnindye parish consists of 12 rural villages, home to about 6000 residents. Most of these people derive their livelihoods from subsistence farming. Thus, the agriculture sector was a natural place to begin development efforts when projects began in 2010. Initial plans called for a "five year holistic transformation," wrapping up all major UPFORD activities by the end of 2015. However, due to a number of complicating factors, UPFORD has not been able to address many other development issues outside the agriculture sector. Nearly three years into the project, many Nnindye residents feel disheartened by its slow pace. Nevertheless, UPFORD remains steadfast in its commitment to address all aspects of Nnindye's development priorities and has extended the program framework indefinitely. This commitment has served as a major source of inspiration and encouragement for the people of Nnindye, as they continue to work with partners at Uganda Martys and Notre Dame.
With seeds, training and continual support from the UPFORD program, Nnindye residents have started 12 community matoke gardens (matoke, a type of banana plant, pictured above). These gardens allow community members to work together and learn the modern techniques of farming, so that they might eventually start individual gardens based on the UPFORD model with seedlings from the community garden. The primary purpose of the gardens is twofold: 1) Increase household food security and 2) Increase household income through food production. Though these goals have not been yet been achieved in full, UPFORD members have begun to set up individual gardens and are hopeful for the future. For more information on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the UPFORD program, please consult the following SWOT analysis.
With seeds, training and continual support from the UPFORD program, Nnindye residents have started 12 community matoke gardens (matoke, a type of banana plant, pictured above). These gardens allow community members to work together and learn the modern techniques of farming, so that they might eventually start individual gardens based on the UPFORD model with seedlings from the community garden. The primary purpose of the gardens is twofold: 1) Increase household food security and 2) Increase household income through food production. Though these goals have not been yet been achieved in full, UPFORD members have begun to set up individual gardens and are hopeful for the future. For more information on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the UPFORD program, please consult the following SWOT analysis.