Where We Work
The project is being implemented in four districts of Lira, Dokolo in Northern Uganda and Mpigi and Butambala in Central Uganda and six sub-counties of Amach, Adekokwok (Lira); Agwata, Amwoma (Dokolo); Muduuma (Mpigi) and Kalamba (Butambala). During beneficiary registration, one member is selected from each household as direct beneficiary. The project also promotes seed loan in that one direct beneficiary will support two other beneficiary households on harvest, to increase planting material in the community.
The project will address the following specific objectives;
- Provide and enhance production of Biofortified Orange sweet potatoes and iron beans among farmers
- Increase consumption and utilisation of Biofortified crops among children and women of reproductive age
- Create & intensify awareness on nutritional importance of Biofortified crops in the project area
- Advocate for scale up of Biofortified crops in the district.
At the end of five years, it is anticipated that MENU project will achieve the following outcomes;
- Increased commercialisation of Orange sweet potatoes and iron rich beans
- Increased awareness and buy-in of bio-fortified crops by government and other development organisations
- Increased farmer groups or individual farmers certified for clean/certified seed production
- Improved feeding practices among households for biofortified crops
The MENU project undertakes the following major activities;
- Identifies and trains farmers in plants agronomy enabling increased production and later establishment of a self-sustaining source of planting material in the community
- Distributes planting material through a seed loan mechanism
- Provides nutrition information to the beneficiaries through trainings and community drama,
- Will conduct field days, and radio shows to increase level of awareness and uptake of biofortified crops in the communities.
The project will also facilitate the marketing of the surplus biofortified crops through establishment and strengthening of market linkages, and support product development using both the OSP and HIB at local and commercial level