“I SEE A FUTURE NOW THANKS TO NURI” – Rose Layet
It is a Monday morning and the looks on Layet’s face speak joy and gratitude. Layet Rose is an excited 55-year-old farmer, single mother of 5 children; 2 girls and 3 boys and a resident of Ocettoke East Village in Layamo sub-county, Kitgum district. Rose separated with her husband in 1986 because he married another woman. Currently, she lives with 3 grandchildren as her direct dependents and is responsible for the welfare of these children including for their education.
While narrating her story, Rose, a woman full of life, reported that some days the family would go without food. There were difficulties in paying medical bills and school fees since she was not involved in any income generating activity. “……Days came and passed but life’s difficulties grew even stronger. Some days would go without a single coin in the house……,” said Rose. Farming was difficult and yet Rose worked tirelessly with an aim of making her family better
In 2020, I engaged in serious piggery project which was being supported by loans I borrowed from our VSLA. I kept on buying and selling pigs while saving the money with a goal.
In 2003, Rose joined an ‘all-women’ group of 10 who were involved in rotational saving; with each contributing UGX 3,000/- per week. Rose spent the first UGX 30,000/- she received to buy a sow. In 2019, Rose joined the NURI programme through a farmer group called Gang Ber Kiworo. She attended all CSA and VSLA trainings and took up the practices seriously. In her first year of CSA, Rose planted 1 acre of sesame that yielded 160kgs, the highest she had ever harvested, according to her. Subsequently, Rose’s group supported her to market 100kgs of her sesame through collective marketing. Rose earned UGX. 300,000/-.
“…..In 2020, I engaged in serious piggery project which was being supported by loans I borrowed from our VSLA. I kept on buying and selling pigs while saving the money with a goal…..”, She said. I saved UGX. 700,000/- in my first VSLA cycle. my major purpose of saving was construction of an ‘iron-sheet roofed’ building.
“I am using part of the money from sale of pigs to pay back the loans I had borrowed, while I have also started the construction of my house,” Rose said in a very delightful voice. “I am very proud of this milestone and thank God for NURI,” she added.
Early this year, Rose spent part of her VSLA savings to lay building bricks in a bid to achieve her saving goal. With abundance of family labour, Rose’s construction has kicked off and seems to be moving fast.
“I plan to open up 2 acres of sesame and continue with savings of which if all goes well, money got from the sale of sesame and VSLA will buy iron sheets for roofing” said rose. Rose now knows the benefits of being in a group and has hopes of getting more support. She never regrets joining NURI program because she now sees a future in her home since she never thought that at her age, she would be in position to construct a permanent house.
Story Credit: Resilient Agriculture Unit (RAU) Kitgum/Lamwo
Documented By: Lillian Apiyo (Extension Officer, Layamo sub-county)
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.