Drought 2016-17 -- Karusandara, Kasese
Water Pump Fundraiser Santa Cruz's Friends of Kasese
and WomenRise/The Great Questions (accepting 501c3 tax deductible donations on our Crowdrise ) co-sponsor -- Flash Fundraiser-- Emergency Drought Relief Water Pump project Donations are still gladly accepted. Peggy sent a major donation Jan 23 to initiate purchasing the water pump and 800 meters of hose pipe, US $2,885 is still needed to purchase complete project serving 2,000 farmers (and capability of serving 2,000 more with additional pipes. You will automatically receive a tax-deductible receipt when you donate. NOTE: for larger donation (more than $200?) please contact Anandi or Peggy (831)239-3429 avoid the 5-10% Crowdrise donation fee Jan 23 update-- On January 20, Uganda's National Minister of Agriculture for crops, Christopher Kibanzanga , visited CETRUD and drought area, Kibanzanga recommends this Water Pump project as a model for other drought-stricken farming areas. (his visit in picture gallery lower right) Jan. 23-- Uganda Radio News URN posted news article of URN radio interview of both Minister Kibanzanga and Godfrey Kasozi hosting him at CETRUD and other farms. Here is LINK radio interview report. New Vision News article Jan 24, 2017, page 11: Agriculture Minister Christopher Kibanzanga's visit to CETRUD and Karusandara assessing drought damage recommending loans to farmers for water irrigation. photo bottom right of Godfrey Kasozi in red hat and Minister Kbanzanga) "Kasese farmers choke on debts after failed harvest by John B. Nzinjah Farmers in Karusandara sub-county in Kasese district have come under pressure from money-lending organizations after they faile to pay their loans. Farmers d not have money due to the poor harvests as a result of the drought. “More than 60% of the affected farmers borrowed money from the money-lending organizations to plant maize, beans, groundnuts and sorghum, all of which dried up due to the drought,” Godfrey Ddembe Kasozi, the chairperson of Karusandara Development Co-operative Society, said. Kasozi was recently giving a report to the state minister for agriculture, Christopher Kibazanga, who visited the area, following an outcry for immediate help from the affected farmers. Kasozi, who is also the chairperson of the Kasese-based Centre for Environment Technology and Rural Development, told Kibanzanga that the farmers had developed mobile irrigation technology, but could not sustain it. The farmers used the mobile irrigation technology on their 80-acre piece of land in Karusandara parish on which they had grown maize, but they failed to maintain it. Kibazanga said the Government was aware of the challenges caused by the unpredictable weather. The Government is going to allocate more funds to the agricultural sector in the 2017/2018 national budget so that solar energy water pumping systems can be stablished in various areas of the country to address the problem of unpredictable weather,” Kibanzanga said. The minister explained that in mountainous areas, the Government was going to establish various gravitational irrigation schemes so that the country is able to produce enough food for home consumption and export. Photo caption: Kibazanga (right) and Kasozi chatting during the tour of farms. Farms have crops that withered due to drought leading to poor harvests. Photo by John B. Nzinja ======================= Double your donation until Friday, Jan. 13! Matching funds up to cumulative $1,000 Project committee member Johnbosco Bwambale affirms the urgent need for this project, and und Click for easy DONATION website upper RIGHT --->>> pictures is, Left to Right, Godfrey Kasozi, Patrick Syayipuma (water engineer for Kasese district, and unidentified CETRUD area resident) January 13, 2017-- Bwambale Johnbosco, Community NGO officer for Karudandara sub-county, of Kasese District affirms the urgent need for the Water Pump project, and Kasozi's initiating it. "This is my 3d year in Karusandara subpcounty As a Community Development Officer. Godfrey has done a lot what is on ground. Even NGOs like Save the Children ...do not have it here in this sub county. He has organized people... helped farmers put up more than 10@ acres of maize with his knowledge , finding seeds for them. The man had [sponsored] kids to school , from primary to university , he has put up to Cetrud centers in Karusandara...created home gardens to the community., it was my first sub county [supervising] to find homes with gardens and he gives them seed., He has distributed land to more 100 families land worth to 300 acres. Delivered development innovations to councils and to our meetings. Right now our sub county has been chosen as the sub county with the best Robusta coffee after testing it because of Godfrey....the man has taken us through development issues and that is why we are working with him in a very good relationship" January 8, 2017 NOTE this is the same project previously sponsored by another local nonprofit (info below), but cancelled due to complications. Since then, we have confirmed directly with several Kasese, Karusandara leaders confirming the project is still valid, is even more urgently needed, and will be managed by a trustable leadership team. Along with Godfrey Kasozi, we are now working with Kasese district water engineer Patrick Syayipuma, who updated the specs and length of the pipes, and clarified the project will initially serve 2,000 people in Karusandara, with potiential for up to 4,000 with expansion of pipes. The project team also includes Johnbosco Bwambale, Kasese District officer for NGOs in Karudandara, and Baluku Wilson Walndiambia, HeadTeacher Roadbarrier Primary School. Tuesday, Nov. 1 Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary launches an emergency relief fundraiser, to purchase a water pump, replacement parts and replacement seeds for Karusandra, Kasese Uganda area, which has been severely affected by 2016 drought conditions Thank you for your support to bring crop irrigation water to 4,000 residents of Karusandara! 1,200 of these people live on their own family-owned lands, which CETRUD helped them to acquire. The crops raised by these 4,000 people who are served directly by the water pump will also help feed another 3,000 people in neighboring villages by food sold at the markets! Click HERE for Project Proposal from Godfrey Kasozi, Director of CETRUD Center for Environment Technology and RUral Development, in Karusandara, Kasese, Uganda, with details of project and pump Click HERE for article from Uganda's New Vision national newspaper October 3, 2016 on Karusandara's drought "Famine Looms in Kasese as Prolonged Drought Hits Hard" (photo below, top left) Click HERE for April 2016 New Vision article "Kasese residents battle worst water crisis ever" Click HERE for Dec 2014 New Vision article on previous Karusandara drought affecting "pastoralists" (cattle grazing ranchers) "Tough times as drought hits Kasese farmers" Your tax-deductible contributions may be made through Rotary Foundation of Santa Cruz Sunrise crowdfunding website CLICK HERE for Rotary crowdfunding website, which will generate a tax-deductible receipt ---------------------------------------------- Oct 26: Kasozi addresses Karusandara sub-county top leadership (photo top row middle), presenting document of effects of climate change, for Education of farmers to deal with effect of climate change and drought affecting farmers in Karusandara sub-county, in Kasese district and in Rwenzori region (photo top row, right) ------------------------ Oct. 25: Kasozi chairs Disaster Committee of sub-county of Karusandara to discuss drought emergency Oct 20: click for video -- greetings to Peggy and Santa Cruz friends from Godfrey and his 2 children, Ariana & James, speaking from CETRUD demonstration farm, at CETRUD's coffee growing plants and fish ponds. He mentions the drought but purpose of video was not specific to the drought. Thanks to our Spring Garden Party 2015 fundraiser, at the home of Prof. Shelly Errington, Friends of Kasese raised funds for a water pump for CETRUD which is still operating successfully, as evidenced in the video. |
Other Uganda Drought Related News--
Uganda -Germany Drought FundingUganda: Germany Funds Initiatives to Address Growing Pressure on Uganda’s Water Resources
Annitah Matsika October 10, 2016 Global warming melting Rwenzori Glaciers"Rwenzori’s melting glaciers worry environmentalists" - Click HERE for March 2016 New Vision Article
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Uganda Develops Drought-Resistant BeansFirst drought-resilient, high iron beans for Uganda released
July 24, 2016 Uganda Radio NetworkDrought Takes Toll on Kasese Farmers
Asanairi Muhindo, the Agriculture Officer Kasese Municipality, says although some farmers planted in time, they were betrayed by the harsh weather conditions. Click HERE for transcript Chronic drought conditions in SW UgandaClick HERE for January 2015 article on drought conditions in SouthWest Uganda,
from WaterSan Perspective: A web journalism platform for WATER JOURNALISTS AFRICA, a network of over 700 water Journalists in 50 African countries |
East African DroughtDrought and rising temperatures 'leaves 36 million people across Africa facing hunger'
Kasese's Biological Remedy for Fruit Fly ProblemUganda to use biological technology to reduce fruit flies - Click HERE for article June 2016
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