My experience as a beneficiary of AFIRD

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My name is Namwebe Prossy, I am a farmer and an owner of a tree nursery bed business along Kampala-Hoima Road.

Documenting the history of AFIRD is such a great idea, for all concerned to know where AFIRD has come from is indeed important. I do not exactly remember when my first encounter with AFIRD was, but I figure it was between the years 20011 and 20012. when AFIRD came to our sub-county, they helped us form farmer groups and trained us in vegetable production, starting from managing seedlings, mixing manure into the soil, and making vegetable garden designs.

I did not pursue my education to any high levels, but I consider myself a learned person all because of AFIRD, I was taught a lot of things that have enabled me to achieve and fend for myself, and support my business. The roots of my nursery bed business are all based on what AFIRD taught me. It was during the training in the nursery bed business that I developed this dream. I got so interested that deep down in me I knew this was something I wanted to do as a business and was ready to invest in my effort. Initially, they taught us techniques of grafting, I was very active in this lesson, and in my group, I was among the first to succeed at grafting trees, they trained us on how to mix soil for potting, planting using both seeds, cuttings (which I did not know was possible before) and everything about managing a nursery bed.

The benefits I have gained from AFIRD are enormous, today I can manage my nursery bed using the technologies I learned from AFIRD and also those I have learned over the years both through experience and from my fellow farmers in the same business. I can fend for my family, feed my children and send them to school, I Have also engaged my children in my work and they have learned all the basics about tree nursery bed management because even in my absence, they can come and cover up for me.

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