My name is Agrey Katapazi, afather of three children and husband to Lidya Namasiku. We live in MakowaVillage, Kazungula District, under Chief Musokotwani. Today, I proudly share the transformation of my horticultural and poultry farming journey—a journey reshaped by climate-smart agriculture and the support of Response Network and Norwegian Church Aid.
I began gardening many years ago, long before the introduction ofthe ClimateSmart Economic Empowerment (CSEE) Project in my community. Atthat time, my garden was very small, measuring only 30 × 30meters. Watering was a daily struggle. I spent long hourscarrying buckets of water from a nearby stream to irrigate my crops. This
method was exhausting, time-consuming, and left me with little energy for other
productive work.
In an effort to reduce this burden, I later purchased a petrol-powered water pump. While this initially improved irrigation, itcreated new challenges. Fuel was expensive and often unavailable. Many times, I was forced to stop farming midway through a production cycle because I could not afford fuel. As a result, my yields were low, production was inconsistent, and income remained unreliable.
Everything changed when the CSEE Project was introduced in our village. My wife and I received training in climate-smart farming techniques, including water conservation, the use of organic manure, mulching, and drip irrigation. This training transformed how we understood farming—not just as survival, but as a sustainable business.
The biggest turning point came when I received a solar booster pump and an irrigation kit. With this support, I expanded my garden from a small plot to one full acre. I am now able to grow a variety of crops based on market demand and seasonal conditions, ensuring consistent production throughout the year.
In addition to horticulture, I ventured into village poultry production, which has significantly strengthened my household income. Poultry provides manure for my garden and acts as a financial safety net when vegetable prices drop. Through the community egg incubator at the Nampongo Demonstration Site, my poultry enterprise has grown rapidly.
I currently keep over 100 village chickens and collect at least 60 eggs per day. Some eggs are sold,while others are incubated at the demo site. The incubator has reduced long brooding periods, increased hatching rates, and allowed continuous egg production.
My farm now operates using a whole-farm integration approach,as taught during the training. Poultry manure enriches the soil, crop residues are used as livestock feed, and this cycle has improved soil fertility, reduced production costs, and increased overall productivity.
Key Outcomes of ThisTransformation Include:
· Scalability: Expansion of my garden from 30 × 30 meters to one full acre
· Increased Income: Earnings increased from K600–K1,500 per cycle to K15,000–K20,000per production cycle
· Asset Growth: Purchase of one cow and expansion of my poultry enterprise
· Education: Ability to fully support my children’s education
· Improved Nutrition: Access to a balanced, healthy diet from our organic garden
Beyond my household, I have shared the knowledge I gained by training fellow farmers Bright, Nosiku, and Bodwine—in horticulture and poultry production, especially on high-breed varieties and integrated farming systems. As a result, more households are adopting climate-smart practices, and our community is gradually embracing farming as a profitable and sustainable business.
I sincerely thank Response Network and its partners NCA/DCA for empowering me and my community. I humbly request continued support so that many more farmers can experience the same transformation and build resilient, dignified livelihoods through agriculture.