Strategies For International Development

In Uganda, in 2024, we continued our regional program in the Luweero District. Farmers in the general population are increasing their knowledge and adopting practices to help them graduate from poverty. The farmers in the early-adopter villages increased their productivity from 113 to 172 kilos per 1/4 acre of coffee, sold more coffee in dried cherries, and had significant price increases. As a result, they increased their income from $227 to $1,212. Also, the number of participating families increased from 1,705 to 1,861. 1,145 women started or expanded 28 different types of second businesses. All the women made business plans for their second businesses and evaluated their results. The average annual income for all the businesses was $92.

In Malawi, in 2024, we continued our regional program in the Central Region of the country, helping dairy producers graduate from poverty. We provide monthly technical assistance to 945 families in 63 villages, where the dairy farmers have agreed to adopt all the practices. We have provided the farmers with Lukina seeds and Rhodes grass to increase the cows' feeding and productivity. We also doubled the number of Artificial Insemination technicians and trained farmers on crucial animal health practices. 945 early-adopter families increased their productivity (liters per cow per day) from 8.50 to 10.33, their days of milk per year from 212 to 231, and their annual net income went from $165 to $547.

In September 2024, we began a new project with 44,000 coffee-farming families in the Kagera Region of Tanzania. The project supports farmers in the Kagera Cooperative Union (KCU) and Kagera District Cooperative Union (KDCU). Most farmers there have only 70-150 coffee trees per acre, far below the recommended 450. The government offers free seedlings, and we helped organize their collection and planting. Since our program began in September, farmers planted 131,200 trees in 7 KCU villages and 321,000 in 11 KDCU villages. We provided technical support for planting, pruning, pest control, and mulching. By June, 2,522 families in over 100 villages increased productivity from 254 to 280 kilos of dried cherries per quarter acre and raised their income from $488 to $923.

In Peru, in 2024 we continued to provide technical assistance to the dairy-producing families that receive loans from our micro-credit program. We helped farmers make business plans as well as improve their land-use plans. We provided technical assistance in the practices that improve the health and nutrition of their dairy cows.