SPRING Quarterly, Volume IV

8/9/2019 SPRING Quarterly, Volume IV

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EDITION 04 April 10 TheSPRING Quarterlyis published by SPRING, a USAID-funded project.

Collective Marketing Program(continued from page 1)

From Friday 28 to Saturday 29 Janu-ary 2010, Ker Kwaro Acholi orga-

nized a two day workshop at the

Royal Palace to establish and docu-

ment Acholi traditional laws on cooperative

farming and alternative dispute resolution.

It aimed at creating the tools necessary to

strengthen SPRING Farmer Groups com-

mitment to cooperation and nonviolent

dispute resolution through the assistance of

Acholi traditional leaders. The participants

provided content for the development oftraining materials and Acholi cultural by-

laws on cooperative farming. The workshop

was attended by selected traditional lead-

ers (Rwodi), elders and community leaders.

These individuals were chosen based on

their enthusiasm, level of traditional knowl-

edge, community leadership and the will and

skills to educate others. The issues shared

and discussed included types of traditional

farming practices, farmer group governance

and structures, land demarcation and non-

violent dispute resolution. The group ac-

knowledged that the documentation will

revitalize the rich Acholi customs that were

eroded by the prolonged armed conict.

The materials and by-laws have been nal-

ized and were recently shared at a work-

shop with traditional leaders who will be

responsible for disseminating the traditional

farming practices to selected SPRING farm-

er groups. A select group of Ker Kwaro

chiefs will also be responsible for providing

necessary groups strengthening and conict

resolution support on an ad hoc basis. This

integrated and conict sensitive support

provided by KKA comes at a critical time

when SPRING is in the process of institu-

tionalizing its 35 collective marketing groups

(representing 276 farmer groups and 8,000

farmers) and ensuring effective management

of their newly established marketing cen-

ters. By reinvigorating cultural leadership

and dispute resolution practices, SPRING is

ensuring the long term sustainability of its

commercial farming groups.

A copy of Traditional By Laws on

Co-op Farming book, can be accessed at

http://www.springuganda.com/publications

major outcomes has been the

establishment of 35 collective

marketing committees (CMCs)

comprised of 5 to 20 SPRING

farmer groups (150 600

farmers). SPRING CMCs began

operating in early 2010 after

the completion and handover

of 30 marketing centers. Each

marketing center is equipped

with a warehouse (65 - 250

metric tons of storage capacity)

and agro-processing facilities

(milling, hulling and shelling

equipment).

Over the last quarter SPRINGsCMC Program achieved the fol-

lowing impressive results:

139,358 kg of produce

bulked and sold for a total

value of $136,545 (273,040,040

UGX);

$2,641 (282,050 UGX)

generated from agro-processing

activities.; and,

31,975 kg of produce bulked,

stored and ready for sale.

The nal phase of SPRINGs

economic security program will

aim to sustain and increase the

operational performance of its

CMCs through a mix of techni-

cal trainings, study tour visits

and value chain linkage facilita-

tion so that economic ben-

ets are spread widely among

SPRINGs network of farmer

groups. With many develop-

ment partners now launching

similar collective marketingprograms, SPRING is delivering

on its mandate to develop and

scale-up innovative stabilization

interventions.

SPRING and Ker Kwaro Acholi

Help Farmers Get Back to the

Roots of Cooperative Farming

Rwodi, Elders, communityleaders and KKA team posed for

a picture during the workshop.

You look at that warehouse

there. My mother contributed making

bricks for the construction of that

warehouse. And now my family is

opening up the rice gardens whose

harvest we shall store in that

warehouse, because it belongs to us

- Child in Pabbo Sub-county, Amuru


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During the last week of

February SPRING and

its implementing partner

Kitgum Women Bee-

keepers Association (KITWOBEE)

organized an exposure visit for 37

KITWOBEE members. The visit aimed

at enhancing members apiary manage-

ment skills through knowledge sharing

and showcasing model beekeepers

farms. Beneciaries received training

on apiary management topics such as

the placement of hives, honey harvest-

ing and quality control methods. They

were also left with the understanding

that they were responsible for sharing

this information with their neighbors

who are also beekeepers.In order to promote information shar-

ing, a KITWOBEE member, Ocan Cae-

ser, was recognized for his leadership

and enthusiasm for sharing beekeeping

skills with others in his community.

Mr. Ceaser was presented with a new

bicycle to allow him to better monitor

activities in his sub-county. Now I can

check on the beekeepers in Agoro-Min (an

area of his sub-county 4 kilometers from

his home)! Once given the knowledge,

startup tools and the ability to see his

potential Ocan has now become an

excellent example of what a beekeeper

can be; an example that his family,

friends and neighbors wont just see

from a distance, but will no doubt hear.

The SPRING-KITWOBEE project is

also training local artisans in modern

hive production as well as produc-

ing several radio talk shows on theeconomic potential of beekeeping in

collaboration with district ofcials, bee

keeping support staff, KITWOBEE and

AVSI staff.

Kitwobee was also able to par-

ticipate in another valuable exchange

visit when it was represented at the

Apimoda Congress last September in

Montpelier France by its project ofcer,

Ocola Simon. The conference provided

an opportunity to share experiences

with beekeepers from many different

countries and to learn about other bee

keeping projects and their impact on

environmental conservation.

To date the SPRING/Kitwobee project

has produced 1,675 kg (5,024,250

UGX) of raw honey of which 697 kg

has been processed and sold for a total

value of 5,576,000 UGX to supermar-

kets and hotels in and around Kitgumtown across its 160 members.

SPRING and KITWOBEEOrganize Beekeeper Study Tour

Left; KITWOBEE Member Ob-

serves Kenyan manufactured Top

Bar hives while a US Peace Corps

Volunteer and a KITWOBEE mem-

ber observe a traditional log hive.


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On 5 March, SPRING, held

a grants signing eventfor 23 CBOs across the

Acholi Sub-region. Or-

ganised under the Gulu District NGO

Forum, the CBOs will implement mi-

cro stability projects worth US$75,000,

covering activities in SPRINGs corecomponents of peace building and

economic security.

The grants will enhance the de-

velopment of local community-

based initiatives, promote peace

and reconciliation at the parishlevels and improve standards of

living through income gener-

ating activities. The projects

are supporting a wide range

of grassroots initiatives such as: crop

production, animal traction, livestockrearing, irrigation and grain milling,

music, dance and drama, community

dialogues and debates, radio shows and

sporting events.

The Gulu District NGO Forum will

strengthen the CBOs in proposal

development, nancial management,

and general project implementation, as

well as provide continuous technical

support and monitoring. The project isalso strengthening partnerships among

SPRING Micro-Stability and Stability

Fund implementing partners.

On Friday 12 March 2010,

Lira District Farmers As-

sociation (LIDFA) ofcially

commissioned a storage facility and

rice mill for 300 farmers in Adwari

sub-county. The marketing center is

part of SPRINGsCommercializationof Rice And Groundnuts Production

In Okwang, Adwari And Orum Sub

Counties, Lira Districtproject that

is promoting economic stabil-

ity through group marketing and

value addition of rice and ground-

nuts. The aim is to increase family

incomes by 45% by 2010.

Olet Donald the LC 5 Chairperson,

Otuke District, addressed the farm-

ers, by saying,This is your property.Maintain and use it for the benet

of all farmers. He also said that

lack of transparency causes many

farmer organizations to fail. He

encouraged them to remain

united and accountable in all you

do, and the district will nd ways to

support you.

Group presentations and music kept

the day lively as participants lled

the room where demonstrations

were made on how to operate the

two rice mills. The marketing center,

which houses bulking and process-

ing operations, has a storage space of

262 tons and a processing capacity of

1.5 tons/hour of rice. The center is

equipped with pallets, weighing scales,

record books and ofce furniture. The

warehouse will be hired out when not

in use by the farmers. Similar centers

were recently commissioned in Orum

and Okwang sub-counties. SPRING and

LIDFA will be working with the col-lective marketing groups over the life

of the project to link to national and

regional markets and ensure proper

management and usage of the facilities.

Lira District Farmers Association (LIDFA)Marketing Center Ofcially Open for Business

SPRING and Gulu District NGO ForumSign Micro Stability Grants with 23 CBOs

LC V of Otuke receivingthe keys to ofciallycommission the warehouse.

LIDFA farmers test run therice milling equipment.

Representatives of the

CBOs signing the

grant agreements.


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On Saturday 27 February,

Concerned Parents As-

sociation (CPA), through

the SPRING supported,

Fortifying Families in Recovery Stabil-

ity Fund project, organized a Peace Day

in Okwang sub county, Lira District, to

raise community awareness and buildconsensus about solutions to the physi-

cal, social, and psychological impacts of

war that have the potential to destabilize

peace in the settling communities. The

theme of the event was Peace building is

our social responsibility. It brought to-

gether four groups of parents, two youth

groups, and two childrens groups, each

of which prepared and presented

activities focusing on various peaceissues in the community, portraying

the best solutions to conict. This

was done through dialogue, music,

dance, and drama. The event ended

with a football match between

parents and youths.

The chief guest, Okwang LC3

Chairperson, asked the com-

munity to use the existing peace

to increase production and send

children to school. The time for handouts

is gone. Each family should work hard to

produce enough for consumption and sale

so that all our children are in school, the

chairperson said.

The Fortifying Families in Recovery

Project is a 10 month initiative that will

strengthen families in four sub counties

in Lira & Oyam Districts to resettle in

their homes and rebuild their lives by

addressing their immediate and longterm needs through supporting interven-

tions that target 1) economic security, 2)

peace building, and 3) early child care ac-

tivities. The project exemplies SPRINGs

integrated model to stability by utilizing

a holistic approach to support CPAs Par-

ents Support Groups and Youth Groups.

Parents and Youth JoinTogether to PromoteCommunity Peacebuilding

CPA Youth Group performing atraditional dance to depict the

need for peace in the community

SPRING Staff Profile

Sebi Ali is a Lira Office

Focal Person

Professional Expertise:Community development work/ Social admin-

istration

Education:BA Social Work and Social Administration

[SWASA] -Makerere University, Uganda

Work Experience:Assistant Program Manager, AVSI- January 2009-

2010-SPRING Project

Assistant Program Manager, AVSI 2007 2008

-Livelihoods, Education and Protection (LEAP)

to end child labour in Uganda funded by US

Department of Labour (US DOL)

Assistant Program Manager, AVSI 2005 2007-

Community Resilience and Dialogue (CRD)

funded by USAID

Program Coordinator, AVSI- 2003- 2004- Psy-

chosocial program

Community training coordinator, AVSI -2000-

2002-Psychosocial program

District Coordinator, Islamic Medical Association

of Uganda-1996-1999, HIV/AIDS Project

Program Ofcer, Agency for Cooperation and

Research in Development (ACORD)-1987-1995

Home:Nebbi/ Jonam/Pakwach sub county/Panyigoro

clan

Hobby: Watching footballThe SPRING project is timely in addressing landconict as people in Lango and Acholi sub regions return

home and information SPRING provides on land has

made people aware and empowered about land tenure and

ownership.

Sebi Ali is the Lira Ofce Focal Person and the

Assistant Programs Manager working with AVSI

in the SPRING project. He manages several

projects out of SPRINGs Lira Ofce. With

support supervision from Sebi Ali, LIDFA

has realized a great change in the livelihood of

farmers supported under theCommercializationof rice and groundnuts production in Okwang, Adwari

and Orum sub counties Lira districtproject and isanticipating the same success with the Fortfying

Families in Recoveryproject. Fortifying Families in

Recovery project.

As part of its mandateto provide USAID with

regular briengs on conict

risks, dynamics and trends,

SPRING and its partner the Great Lakes

Centre for Conict Resolution (GLA-

CCR) conducted a conict assessment

that collated the opinions of 200 partici-

pants across SPRINGs six districts using

the USG Inter-Agency Conict Frame-

work (ICAF). The report also provides

a Peace and Human Security Forecast

based on the windows of vulnerabil-

ity and opportunities as identied by

participants.

For a copy of the report please contact

SPRINGs Peace andJustice Program Director,

Jessica Huber,

[email protected] .

SPRING Releases NewConflict Briefing Report


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Notes from the Field

Head Office: Plot 1GA Samuel Doe RoadP.O.Box 36 Gulu, UGANDA Tel: +256 (0) 471 433506,Website: www.springuganda.com Email: [email protected]

Date of Establishment: 1996

Location:

Lira Municipal Council(Head ofcer)

Coverage:

Lira District (Okwang and Adwari subcon-ties) and Oyam District(Otwal and Minakulu sub counties)

Number of Staff:

30(Lira and Oyam)

SPRING Project:

Fortifying Families in Recovery (FFIR)

Project Highlight:

Fortifying Families In Recovery (FFIR),a 10 month project, strengthens families infour sub counties in Lira & Oyam districtsto resettle in their homes and rebuild theirlives by addressing their immediate andlong term needs through supportinginterventions to improve their economic

security, peace building and leadership skills.Support is also extended to strengthenthe capacities of families to support earlychild care and development. Actions takenemploy an integrated and holistic approachtargeting Parents Support Groups (PSGs)and Youth Groups (YGs).

Lira Ofce focal person:

Sebi Ali Ubanjagiu,[email protected]

During the second half of2009, SPRING and its part-ners established 35 Collec-tive Marketing Committees

(CMCs) that currently manage marketingcenters equipped with warehouses and

processing equipment. The major role ofthe CMCs is to supervise the marketingprocess of farmers produce. Members ofthe CMCs were elected by farmers fromSPRING supported farmer groups andare now in the process of developing selfsustainable businesses.

As mentioned in the lead article, CMCshave achieved early success realizingprots from bulked sales and agro-pro-cessing activities as well as mobilizing

local resources to purchase small scalemarketing center equipment (pallets,

weighing scales, furniture and recordkeeping books). This success, however,has not come without hurdles. TheCMCs have registered challenges, whichthey are currently working to overcome.During a SPRING supported radio talkshow on Mega Fm in Gulu, CMC leadersfrom Lango and Acholi regions men-tioned some of their challenges:

Some committee members are still not

sure of their roles, farmers are hesitant to

bulk their produce in the warehouses for

fear that a market may not be found in time

and the biggest challenge we are facing is

that of dishonesty from the farmers who

took seed loans. They will not admit how

much they got from their yields for fear that

it will all be taken away to clear their loans,

Opobbo Isaac, a CMC leader from Atiak.

SPRING is working closely with itsCMCs to ensure they can overcomecurrent challenges. Two of the capacitybuilding areas SPRING and its partners

are emphasizing are development ofgroup constitutions and managementplans and transparent record keeping.

There are policies that guide the operation

of the groups. Under these policies, honesty

is emphasized. If farmers are not honest to

clients, they lose out on the market of their

produce. So we dont encourage cheating

and corruption.Bosco Ogwang-LIDFAField Coordinator in Otuke District

The issue of cheating clients has not beenrecorded in any SPRING Marketing Center.

All produce milled from SPRING Warehouses

are branded with their weights written on

them. Before a client walks out with any

branded produce, it is weighed again to

make sure amounts are evenly recorded.- Peace Gloria Kica Ber Field Coordi-nator in Attiak.

SPRINGs CMC capacity buildingprogram will aim to address these andother institutional challenges through-

out the year so that economic benets

are enjoyed by a large number of CMC

members.

Date of Establishment: 1998

Location: Plot 3A Ayer road LiraMunicipality

Coverage: LIRA (Otuke) District:Adwari, Orum and Okwang Sub Counties

Number of Staff: 10

SPRING Project: Commercialization ofrice and groundnuts production in Okwang,Adwari and Orum sub counties Lira district(now Otuke district)

Project Highlight: The project focuses

on commercialization of rice and groundnutsproduction in Okwang, Adwari and Orum

sub counties. The overall goal of the projectis to increase household incomes by 45% bythe year 2010 and to promote peace and

reconciliation amongst beneciaries through

strengthening democratic and transparentfarmer groups and promoting cooperationacross villages, parishes and Sub Counties.The project objectives are: 1) 30 functionaland democratic farmer groups Strengthenedby the year 2010. 2) Promote value additionof rice and groundnuts to tap the increas-ing demand and reap additional prots. 3)

Effective marketing channels for rice andgroundnuts developed by the year 2010

SPRING, Lira ofce focal person:

Sebi Ali Ubanjagiu [email protected]

SPRING IP Prole

LIRA DISTRICT FARMERSASSOCIATION (LIDFA)

SPRING Implementing Team;

Cardno Emerging Markets, AVSI and STF

CMC Challenges Poor Communication Between Leaders

and Members Bad Experiences with Previous Collective

Marketing Systems. Lack of Trust. Weak Leadership Access to Reliable Market Information Transport to Marketing Centers

SPRING IP PROFILE - CPACONCERNED PARENTSASSOCIATION (CPA)

Documents

SPRING Quarterly, Volume IV