In the rural heart of Otuke District, a widow's determination has transformed her from a struggling subsistence farmer to a community icon of success. As a 51 year old widow raising 7 children, the eldest now 23, Margaret faced the daunting task of providing for her family after her husband’s death 15 years ago. With no stable income and limited farming resources, she depended on subsistence agriculture to feed her children, often falling short of meeting their education and healthcare needs. “There were days when we barely had what to eat” she recalls.

However, her story took a turn in 2018 when she joined the Obang Ber Widows Group, formed with support from SAA under Nippon Foundation and the local government.[S1]  Margaret’s entry into the group opened doors to a wealth of opportunities. She and her fellow group members received comprehensive training in various critical areas, including conservation agriculture practices to improve soil health and productivity, market-oriented agriculture to align their farming with market demands, market survey techniques to identify profitable ventures, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture to integrate health and nutrition into their farming activities. These targeted trainings equipped Margaret with the skills and knowledge to diversify her farming activities and maximize her income while promoting community well-being.

Margaret Akullo

Among her discoveries was the potential for watermelon production, a crop in high demand in Otuke and beyond. Since the interventions also equipped her with modern farming knowledge, to make this vision a reality, Margaret reached out to SAA for further support. SAA played a pivotal role in supporting Margaret to acquire and utilize irrigation equipment for her farming. Recognizing the high costs involved, SAA provided substantial assistance by co-funding 50% of the required expenses, which included digging a water pit and establishing a reliable water source. Additionally, SAA facilitated the procurement of a 7.5-horsepower pump, a 60-meter pipe, and a 5-meter inlet pipe, alongside a drip irrigation system, and installation through its network of service providers. SAA also trained Margaret on the use and maintenance of the equipment, ensuring sustainable operation. Armed with new skills and tools, Margaret adopted advanced irrigation methods and improved productivity on her 4-acre watermelon farm.

Her efforts bore fruit, each harvest now yields at least 2,500 melons, each weighing approximately 5 kg. With a kilogram selling for 0.14 USD, Margaret earns an estimated 1,688 USD per harvest. Her market extends beyond Uganda, and her watermelons are in high demand, attracting traders from Nakasero Market in Kampala and even Kenya, contributing to local and cross-border trade. The success of her farm also created jobs in her community. Margaret employs 10 local youth, who earn 1.35 USD per day during harvest periods.

Inspired by SAA’s Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture training, Margaret also ventured into food processing and value addition. She produces composite porridge, blending soybean flour, maize flour, millet, and silverfish to create a highly nutritious product. Each day, she invests 7 USD to produce 40 packets of porridge, selling each for 1.35 USD. This earns her 54 USD per day. Additionally, she prepares snacks like shortcakes and pancakes using maize and cassava flour, generating an extra 60 USD daily. These ventures have diversified her income, enabling her to provide for her family’s education, healthcare, and nutrition while saving for future investments. She is currently constructing rental apartments on a plot she purchased in Lira City, marking yet another milestone in her journey of economic empowerment. “When I look at how far I’ve come, I see hope not just for myself but for other widows and farmers in Otuke,” she says with a proud smile.

Her commitment to nutrition also extends to her role as host of SAA’s One Stop Nutrition Model in the Otuke district; she teaches her neighbors and community members about balanced diets, nutrient-rich farming, and backyard gardening. Her efforts have significantly reduced malnutrition among children under five in her district.

Margaret’s success has taught us valuable lessons. Empowering women farmers can uplift entire communities. Integrated approaches that combine agricultural training, nutrition education, and market linkage yield tangible results. And finally, partnerships between farmers and organizations like SAA create pathways for lasting change. For Margaret, the future is bright, and her story reminds us all that even in the face of adversity, hope and hard work can sow the seeds of transformation.