How JESE is Promoting Nutrition in Rwenzori
Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE) over the years has been engaging farming households in Kabarole, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge to improve incomes and nutrition security through dairy farming with a focus on zero grazing. To address the nutrition challenges in the region, JESE has also focused on engaging and supporting the primary schools and vulnerable youth in Fort Portal City to implement horticultural activities.
Our Work on Horticulture with Primary Schools
Horticulture is unique to JESE and has created opportunities to engage young boys and girls and patrons in the primary schools to ensure school environment supports both health, wellbeing and learning about safe food production and consumption both at school and in their homes.
This intervention has increased the children’s nutrition and knowledge among young children, attitude and practices to optimize their healthy lifestyle by encouraging them to eat healthiy and stay physically active, demonstrating practices for safe production and pupils’ interaction and discussion on nutrition and safe foods through debates.
The intervention has created opportunities especially in the new government curriculum for school teaching to link the theory and practical lessons using the set demonstrations.
Our Work on Horticulture with Refugee Households
JESE work with refugee households in Kyaka II refugee settlement to improve incomes, food and nutrition security. Currently, JESE is engaging 1,000 refugee households in horticulture using the key hole method (see photos below).
Our Work on Horticulture with Youth
JESE supports vulnerable youth in horticulture through urban farming to create employment for the youth, improving livelihoods and strengthening sustainable food systems. JESE is currently supporting 200 vulnerable youth in Fort Portal city to use small spaces in growing and management of horticultural products including sukuma wiki, onions, cabbages, spinach, zucchini, beetroot and amaranthus among others.
Our Work on Dairy with Small Holder Farmers
JESE supports small holder farmers to integrate livestock (dairy) in their farming systems. Currently, JESE is working with 450 households in Kicwamba in Kabarole district under this intervention to enhance incomes and nutrition security at household level. JESE is using this as a complementary interaction between the livestock and crops whereby the dairy units are able to provide manure to the farm to enhance soil fertility and crop remains as fodder for the animals and for nutritional purposes at the household.
