Needs assessment report

This is the summary of our needs assessment report
NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
ON
TWEKAMBE AND AMAGEZI BUGGAGA FARMER MARKETNG GROUPS

AT KALINDA AND NALUKONGE VILLAGES, NAKASONGOLA DISTICT.

DONE ON 18TH JUNE, 2009
Facilitators: Group four members
Ms Brenda Nzirambeera.
Mr. Andrew Kalule Owen
Mr. Charles Lubega


INTRODUCTION

Problem statement

Surplus of crop produce by farmers in Nakasongola district is one of the major causes of alarm that has left most the people yarning for the most feasible strategy to improve their livelihoods.

This surplus is primarily attributed to lack of: ready markets for their produce, knowledge and technologies to further modify their crop produce as well as capital resources needed to implement the technologies already acquired.

Poor market research is the major gap is the major gap that has hastened this problem.
In pursuit for better lives , Jobs International, SAVE the Children in collaboration with Makerere University are currently running a project to embark on a process to empower the members in these communities to take charge of their development through imparting them with knowledge and technologies such as product development as well as linking them to better markets.

Target group

Farmers in Twekambe and Amagezi Buggaga marketing groups in Kalindi and Nalukonge villages respectively in Nakasongola district.

Objectives

To get more information about the farmers so as to provide an oopurtunity to understand the community better.
To generate probable product ideas for product development.

Methods used

· Sharing experiences
· Focused group discussions
· observations

Materials used

Charts
Markers
Pens
Writing pads
Masking tape

Venue

The meeting was conducted at the local council head quarters in Nalukonge village where the Amagezi Buggaga usually converge to discuss and market their products.

DATA COLLECTED

Expectations

The exercise started by receiving the expectations of the participants. The following were listed.
To acquire more knowledge on value addition to their harvested produce.
To acquire knowledge on how to store their produce.
Linkage to better markets.
To get rich.
To get more skills.
To learn how to increase their crop yields hence become better farmers.
To become change agents.
To be awarded certificates at the end of the project.

Generally, it’s the buyers who set the prices because the farmers are ignorant about the on going market prices they are therefore exploited because they offer quality produce at low prices. The cited prices vary from farmer to farmer but the above is an estimated averaged arrived at during the session with the farmers
During product development, these prices will play a major role in budgeting to ensure effectiveness of the respective ventures.

Problems faced by the farmers in their day to day activities.

These were cited to be:
Lack of ready markets.
Poor storage facilities.
Inconsistent quality of products.
Poor transport.
Lack of capital.
Lack of labor to till the large pieces of land.
Pests and diseases.
Lack of information on on-going market prices.
Highly fluctuating prices.

Probable solutions
As a community, the farmers have managed to come up with some solutions to cope with the situations. These include:
Afforestation.
Formation of marketing groups.
Use of local storage facilities like granaries
Spraying against pests and disease.
Look up to leaders in authority to get solutions.

Product ideas generated.

Below are some of the product suggestions arrived at by the farmers:
Dried vegetables.
Dried mangoes.
Mango juice.
Gari from cassava.
Oil from groundnuts.
Tomato curry powder.
Local brew from cassava.
Peanut butter (Kipoli).
Highly polished flour.
Juice from sweet potatoes.
Sweet potato flour for making cakes and porridge.
We learnt the farmer actually know what they desire to have therefore when developing products most of these ideas will be put under consideration.

Mapping.

The major aim of this activity was to get more information on other resources available and their actual locations let alone knowing the geography of the areas were we shall be operating.

The following are indicated on the map attached:
Trading centre
Schools- kalinda primary school where the Twekambe marketing groups converge for their meetings
Dams
Boreholes
Lake kyoga
Roads.


Observations made;

ü The percentage of women involved in this project is higher compared to men which is an indicator of women in development despite the past where they were under looked
ü The farmers are equally knowledgeable therefore their suggestions will be the foundation to prosper this project.

CONCLUSION

The meeting was generally well attended and participants were enthusiastic to learn and work to change their living conditions for the better. However being the first meeting it was short but more will be organized as the project proceeds.

Capacity building being the key to sustainable development, great appreciation is extended to everybody who contributed to making this project a reality.