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Presbyterian Kiwis make a difference in Uganda

By Bartha Hill

An experiment in zero-grazing introduced by Christian farmers to some small south-west villages in Uganda is bringing satisfaction to the Kiwis and an improved lifestyle for the Ugandans.

At the beginning of 2004, two Te Awamutu farmers and their wives – Carol and Ross Turner and Rosemary and Vic Clarke – went to Rweishamiro under the auspices of the Africa Inland Mission to initiate a zero grazing project, which is an intensive system that produces a lot of milk from a small amount of land. They had with them enough money from the combined churches of Te Awamutu to buy eight heifers and ten water wells.

During that time, the New Zealand farmers organised training courses in three small villages and taught around 70 interested local farmers about zero grazing including how to build the required pens and feed and care for the animals.

Towards the end of their time they gave heifers, which were sourced locally, to six farmers who were selected by their communities. The expectation was that they would give the first-born calf to another farmer.

The New Zealanders also left money for ten 6000 litre water tanks. Together with local contributions, this was enough for 21 tanks. The women, who can now just turn on a tap for clean water, say they are astonished how much extra time they have now that they don’t have to walk miles every day to fetch water, which was often polluted anyway.

When Mr Clarke, Session Clerk of Te Awamutu Presbyterian church, and Mrs Clarke, together with Margaret Garrett, returned to check on progress this year, they were impressed with what they found.

Although one of the heifers had died, the others had produced offspring and were providing their owners with enough milk for their families and there was plenty left over to sell for cash to buy other household essentials or pay school fees. The Kiwis ran further seminars and left money for heifers to two new villages.

While the men were busy with the seminars the women were involved in other ways. Mrs Clarke, a registered primary school teacher, taught English in the local school’s junior primary classes using songs and rhymes and read stories to children in the playground. Mrs Clarke and Ms Garrett helped teach Bible stories at a Girls Brigade group and left some teaching aids for the teachers.

The Kiwis also went to Ruharo vocational school to teach the girls to sew some saleable craft items. “We would love to introduce a course in zero grazing,” says Mrs Clarke. “Perhaps with a heifer as a prize for the top student.” Mrs Clarke, who is a trained lay preacher, regularly preached in local churches, at school assemblies and at the vocational school.

Another Te Awamutu team is going in 2006 but the Clarkes hope to return to Uganda in a couple of years’ time.