Just like many farmers, Mr. Simon Opido, 54 years old, used to use conventional ways of farming on his 10-acre farm for some time. On his farm, you can evidently see variety of plants, cattle, 40 beehives, sheep and poultry of all kinds ranging from chicken, turkey and Guinea fowl.
Opido’s farm, which is in Bululu village, Kalaki district is a home to many since Opido stays with his
extended family including his mother and some adopted children. Before intervention of training
under the KHEA project, he used to use agro-chemicals from the farm supply to treat his chicken and as a result the smell from these agro-chemicals products affected his health, family, and environment something that did not sit right with his family.
He has also had the misfortune of witnessing some of his friends passing away from diseases
caused by Agro-chemicals which really shook him away and transformed him into using organic
farm products.
Being a farmer, he was invited to participate in a training organized by CIDI through the Knowledge
Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) project hosted by PELUM Uganda a few months ago. He has always wanted to have the best methods of controlling pests and diseases
on his farm thus the KHEA project was a stitch in time.
Opido has been able to learn how to make medicine for the Newcastle chicken disease.
“We use aloe vera, lemon leaves, mix and pound them together in a mortar after we squeeze the
juice out of it which we use to treat the birds,” explained Opido.
Opido says he also uses sodom-apple juice to control ticks in his cattle and poultry which is also
a natural way of controlling diseases, feeds his chicken and turkeys on organic simsim and maize
seeds and all this knowledge is attributed to PELUM Uganda through the KHEA project.
Opido has been able to benefit economically from his turkeys as he says income got has been used to
pay school fees for his children both in primary and secondary, it has given him food security and through
poultry, he has acquired a motorcycle that he uses for transportation of his produce to the market and
supporting his business within the village.
“One turkey is about UGX 130,000 and I have over ten turkeys ready for sale. I also have chicken and other birds that can give me some good money,” said Opido.
Additionally, he is in awe of the knowledge and skills he has acquired from PELUM Uganda through the KHEA project which has helped him train two farmers so far to start using organic products. He feels like
his lifespan is likely to be longer due to eating healthy foods all due to PELUM Uganda.
His livestock acts as social capital for tradition ceremonies, church offertory and has been able to adopt other children supported by an income he has benefited from selling his poultry. He urged PELUM Uganda to train more farmers through exchange visits that are demonstrative to change attitude towards organic farming and help create ready market for the farmers’s produce which remains a huge hinderance to date.
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Success story collection – done by Ezra Kalule – KHEA Project Officer – PELUM Uganda, Story Photo credits-PELUM Uganda and Edited, reviewed & uploaded by Magino Pamella-KHEA Communications Officer-PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust Kenya
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Author: Pamella Magino
Ms. Magino Pamella joined PELUM Uganda on 1st Oct 2021 as Communications Officer for the KCOA-KHEA project. With 9+ years in Communications and Marketing, she specializes in Public Relations, Business Development, and Marketing. Pamella holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication (Public Relations) and is a Certified Member of PRAU. She has worked with organizations like The Nile Basin Initiative and Victoria University Kampala, crafting strategies that drive positive change.
