From Heather, our Executive Director:
Great night’s sleep! Awoke to a familiar sound, but new at the same time. There were children’s voices raised in song—hey! The same song from the DVD The Living Loan!!! Father Peter had said there is a boarding school (most schools are boarding schools) right next door, and the school starts sessions early. Looking out my screened window, I couldn’t see them, but the sound is so fun. The sky is blue—that hot hazy blue already—and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. I’m slathered with sunscreen, have on a long sleeve top for sun protection, and have doublechecked that my hat is in my backpack. I’m ready for the day.
Father Peter gave us a tour of the MADDO offices, and we were greeted by several staff members, and then attended a staff meeting well run by Father Peter. Many good questions were asked, and even better answers were provided. We learned that Caritas MADDO purchases liters of milk from the farmers at 450 Ugandan schillings during the dry season, and 500-600 UGX during the wet season, and that they sell the milk at 500 UGX per half-liter (wholesale) or 600 UGX per half-liter (retail). For reference 600 UGX = 30 cents US. Before the Masaka diocese started the dairy, farmers would sell their milk in town to buyers on credit, and then never get paid. This way they get a fair price from a reliable buyer. The half-liters are packaged in plastic sealed triangle-shaped packets, a very compact and stable way to package and distribute milk to consumers.
Father Peter’s goal is to attain holistic development regardless of religious affiliation. Poverty is not just named “protestant” or “muslim.” Once we help all, then all work and plan together. His three cornerstones to achieve holistic development are: nutrition, income, and prayer.
Note to all supporting MPA: Caritas MADDO is operating a youth conference August 11-14, with music, prayers, inspirational talks, and fun—we can pray for their success. The conference is called “Dare 4 MO!” and is open to all youth.
At the staff meeting, we learned that Rwanda is buying up cows in Uganda to furnish their own cow projects, and this is tightening the cow market. Peter and his team are being savvy with purchasing cows, but it does take time. 585 families have cows in the project to date, and whether a new family gets a passed-on cow or a purchased cow depends on geography to minimize transportation costs. About 3 years with a cow, a family is typically ready to add in the biofuel component of the program. Families agree that extra heifers (after the first one is passed on to repay the loan), if they are sold, will be sold to Caritas MADDO. Cows might produce milk for 8-10 years, depending on how well fed they are and how often the family opts to have them inseminated. About 200 calves are born each year but more have been bulls, and some are not the first heifer so don’t have to be passed on. Caritas MADDO encourages families to sell the bulls, because the cost of feeding a bull is greater than the sales price. From the time a family receives a cow, it might be 9.5 months before they start earning income from milk, because milk production begins with the birth of the calf. For a newly born calf, it would be 27 months before milk production, because insemination starts at 18 months of age. Even though there isn’t income from milk, there are still immediate benefits to cow ownership. The manure and urine fertilize the crops, and with more productive crops, there is more income. Last year, Caritas MADDO had 99 pass-on heifers.
Caritas MADDO encourages groups of farmers to join the program, so that there is a support group, and economies of numbers for that geographic community. The group as a whole must be willing to take on crop management skills training, and must be qualified by Caritas MADDO before they are eligible to receive a cow. The average size of a group is 15-30 families. When a group starts, it is typically the women who start it, because they have already talked among themselves. One acre of land costs about 2.5 Million UGX (about $1500 US). If a farmer is too poor to afford building a shed, Caritas MADDO still offers training on crops such as legumes that will help that farmer generate more income by selling these crops which other farmers with cows might need.
Father Peter’s goal is to have 1000 families with cows by the end of next year.
At this point, we were late for our meeting with the bishop. Father Peter softened this with an Africa saying, “Visitors are never late, only delayed.”
Bishop Kaggwa for Pope! I think we were all thinking this as we heard this amazing man of the cloth share his thoughts. While in Rome, Bishop Kaggwa offered Mass for the people at MPA who made the 50 cows possible, in reference to the Fund-A-Need activity at the Gala, at which we raised funds to support 50 more cows, and also for all the MPA friends. The Bishop sees that because of the cow project, families are able to send their children to school, and then to university, and the future of the country will be created by those who have studied. He has a saying:
“Whatever your religion or tribe, if you are hungry, you are our people.” Wow!
From there, we met with Immaculata Nakabazzi and her daughter Justin. Immaculata has been a widow for 10 years. She has 6 children, is caring for 2 orphans, and cares for a young man who happens to have epilepsy and who helps her with her farm. Her heifer gave birth to a bull 5 days ago, and we were there for the first milking that would actually be milk to take to the collection center. Immaculata’s farm is impeccable and well organized. She has raised beds for her crops, and a seedling nursery to protect the tender new plants. Her banana plants follow the recommendation of “grandmother, mother, daughter” pruning to ensure vigorous growth and fruit production. She generously shared a jackfruit and sugarcane with us. Justin was bright and vivacious and outgoing, a wonderful hostess alongside her mother.
Immaculata loaded up her 6.5 ltr from the afternoon’s milking in our truck and rode with us to the new collection center. She logged in her milk, and we saw the cooling tank that is the new addition for Caritas MADDO.
After this we visited the farm of Henry and Clemencia Musoke and their ten children. This farm has just qualified and received their heifer (this is a cow funded by MPA) on March 19. They named the cow “Mercy of God.” Clemencia said, “We are very, very happy. We can improve on our livelihood. We learned about the cow from a priest’s sermon at church. It is not easy to put up a structure, but we were very determined. We are very, very happy.” Clemencia and Henry have raised plant beds, a seedling nursery, the sanitation station beside the toilet facility, but it all looks so much more new and raw compared to Immaculata’s. Peter’s observation was full of hope, “This time next year you will see a much more organized farm, it is so wonderful to see a family’s progress.”
So much today, so much emotion!
Ah, I forgot to tell you about the field trip to the dairy processing center itself, will get you caught up with tomorrow’s update.
From Uganda wishing you a sense of appreciation for comforts great and small….
Heather and the Team: Toni, Dick, Elizabeth, Maureen, and Matt
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