Activity Report

I would like to report about participative workshop which was held at Mbarara District in August and the present situation of intervention package.

１．Participative Workshop

The purpose of this workshop is to confirm disseminating situation of intervention package and discussing about current problems that farmers are facing and find out how to solve them by themselves. Participants were project cooperative 30 famers and each staff from Mbarara district, UCCCU (Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union) and DDA (Dairy Development Authority).

In the beginning, we divided all participants into 3 groups (3topics: 1, Milking hygiene 2, Reproduction & Nutrition management 3, Ticks- & Tick-borne disease control). Alice (District officer), David (District officer) and Dr. Patrick (Makerere University) were in charge of each groups.

Each group members discussed about present problems and challenges in 10mins. After 10mins, Group1 move to Group2, Group2 to Group3, Group3 to Group1 and discussed about eachtopic. After more 10mins, group rotation was conducted again, and all participants could discuss about all 3topics.

Problems and challenges in each topic are as follows.

Thereafter we shared that information and discussed about each solution. Given solution strategies are as follows.

Based on these opinions, we would like to improve disseminating intervention package by using media such as radio and mobilization of extension officers from now on. In addition, we would like to collaborate with other NGO more and work together to achieve our goals.

２．Present situation about disseminating intervention package

We could finish disseminating intervention package first round in the beginning of August. Now we are conducting second round to confirm challenges that farmers are facing and understanding current situation.

At first, we thought it is so difficult to make a dramatic change for farmers immediately, that means just only one-time explanation.

However, we could see some favorably changes of farmers. Slowly but surely, they have been changing. To give examples, we explained proper crush to prevent ticks and tick-borne diseases to farmers when we visited farms in first round. After 2 months, when we visited there in second round we could confirm that one farmer reconstructed new crash along intervention package

In another case regarding milking hygiene, some farmers already prepared equipment (such as buckets, towels and chlorine solution) that we explained last time and have conducted one towel for one cow method.

Although it doesn’t mean all farmers are conducting, we think this is very positive sign. We would like to inform these good farmer’s information to other farmers through newsletter and improve their motivation. Additionally, we would like to investigate and assay the difference of farmers which conduct intervention package and some which is not still be able to practice.

Lastly, I would like to talk about kind extension officer. In other day, I visited north region in Mbarara district to meet up there with Monica who is extension officer and in charge of that region. When I arrived there, farmers already gathered in one place. Monica got the farmers together there. Therefore, we were able to work together with extension officers more and more.