Should a modern farmer buy a car or farm land first?

 “You should immediately put into practice what you have learned from the business convention, visit premises of some of the exhibitors that attracted your attention and ask them more questions” emphasized by the owner of His Grace Amazing Farm during his interview on High Flyer program on Impact FM. Eva took this advise seriously and went ahead to put into practice what she had learned during the Victory Business Convention and Jinja Show. You can read more about the event experience on her previous blog "why should farmers go to agricultural events and exhibition"

Eva and other family members prepared the local maize seeds that were bought during the event by sorting out the broken ones and removing the ones that had been attacked by the weevil. The broken pieces were sold to one of her children’s business enterprise project on rearing local chicken. He calls it Koki Project. Of course, he was excited to feed his hens on local maize instead of kyakyu and he booked for more kilos once they harvest. In other words, there is already a secured market right in the house. In addition to seed sorting, they soaked the maize seeds for 12 hours using Fete Organics NPK fertilizer. They used two spoons of the organic fertilizer per kilogram per litre. They also did the same for red beans and Tanzanian beans seeds which required 3 hours of soaking. Eva put the maize seeds in water at 6pm and at 3am she soaked the beans. Early that morning at 6am She had boiled water and soaked calliandra seeds which require 24 hours. She also added some organic NPK fertilizers though calliandra was not on the  listed crops of Fete Organics. Sometimes, we need to experiment out new things. This time she did the seed preparation before planting with almost every family member as they were not worried of any poisons compared to when they were soaking hybrid maize seeds. The children also participated in planting maize who were restricted while sowing hybrid seeds. There was a time when one of the children chewed the treated hybrid groundnut seeds thinking that they were roasted. For this exercise of local seed varieties, It was very relaxing! The little stress came in when she burned the packages of hybrid maize seeds, the chemical was still strong and she again got agitated. She is not sure if it is her body in particular whether it is a mindset thing she needs to deal with or if this hybrid medium affects other people as well. Eva is glad that this is her last season to deal with all that drama.

As usual, Eva was awake by 5am and they had katogo breakfast (bananas/matooke mixed with groundnuts, tomatoes, green pepper, onions and some cow ghee) along with milk. She got the joy of serving food and eating without fork since she was not worried of any poisons from organic fertilizer. Of course, the organic fertilizers are also made based on chemical reactions so she still had to wash her hands properly before cooking and taking in foods. By around 6am they were out of our house with a half bag of 50 Kg sac full of different materials: maize seeds, bean seeds, calliandra seeds, white and orange flesh sweet potato vines and sozi cassava cuttings. Apparently, the sales woman conned Eva on cassava variety, she convinced her that sozi can grow in 6 months and it is one of the local varieties. After paying, the lady from another stall who had honestly told Eva that her cassava was of “NAADS”; came by this woman's stall asking for more cuttings since she had sold out all her stock! Eva was disappointed but immediately forgave this woman and she decided to take the cassava for future testing when they start the cassava chips business for one of her children. Eva was lucky that she had just read two books which have facilitated her to attain the skill of instant forgiving and looking at the positive side. One of them is “Baits of Satan” by John Bevere and the other book which she is yet to complete reading is “the power of your subconscious mind” by Joseph Murphy.

Farmer with a truck for transport. Courtesy, www.freepik.com. 

 To continue the farm journey, Eva stopped the taxi/matatu, public 14-seater mini-bus and they headed to the main town to board another taxi that drops them to a trading centre where they get a boda boda to the farm. It normally takes between 1.5 to 2 hours in public means and one hour in private car. By 7am, they got the call from the field staff that they were finalizing digging out holes for maize after which they will be weeding some part of the gardens incase Eva has not yet arrived they will fetch water that will be used for applying Black off organic pesticide and fertilizer. Eva normally shares these details with the workers such that they don’t just sit in the garden and wait for her. With time, they have acquired a skill of having more optional tasks as they wait for Eva to come from town. This helps in case of the delays with public transport vehicles, or car break down or when the client or boss calls her or if there is an emergency and she cancels the trip. For this trip, Eva and her team were the first people in the second taxi and they had to wait for more persons for it to get full and then they can leave. It took like an hour then we had over 3 stops by the traffic police as the boot of the taxi was open due to overloading it. The driver had orders from market vendors along the road who had ordered for vegetables and fruits from the main town. Sometimes, he would need to offload all items to pick the small sac for the vendor who was on the first stop. Eva made herself quiet and still by reading Joseph’s book but in her background, she could hear complaints of other passengers on the delays. Eva finally got to the farm at mid-day when they were expected to arrive at 9am, at most by 10am. Unfortunately, they had soaked all the seeds which needed to be sown on that day. It was a marathon! As usual, Eva normally walks around all corners of the farm to say hello to every crop in the gardens and to notice any pests or theft attacks. This time she noted a missing banana which she inquired from the field staff and he was shocked that she noted it. The answer on its whereabouts was not clear at all. 

 On arriving to the maize section, she noted that one of the new lazy boys in the village was already at work. He was recently working with a fishery company and he was laid off on selling the business to some foreigners. As usual, he quickly threw his hoe down and welcomed Eva at the same time blaming her for being late and that he is already hungry! She almost wanted to burst to him on why he was on her farm in the first place when the last time he done a poor job. But her spirit calmed down and she apologized to all the workers for being late and she prayed that they will accomplish the day’s work. As they were planning on tasks, the young lazy man was busy making a small house for one of Eva's children as he was anticipating rains and he kept declaring it. It finally rained while they were still planting sweet potato vines. He asked Eva if he can go and buy some snacks for children as we wait for rains to stop. She gave him money and she told the rest to get back to work even though it was raining. Eva felt sorry for them because she was once like them. Had it not been my university training in Costa Rica where it rains 24 hours in the tropics, she would be fearing to work in rains too. She had to acquire the rain coat jacket and work with her fellow students in heavy rains. Unfortunately, in Uganda, the fear of rains is too much and someone can easily miss a job interview because it was raining! As expected, it took 2 hours for this lazy boy to come back, the rest of the workers proceeded with the job and they planted the sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sorghum, millet and calliandra. Eva is using calliandra to create a farm hedge or fence to stop her neighbors from encroaching her land. She actually uprooted some cassava cuttings and banana suckers from one of her new neighbors who planted them on the road reserve where village people pass there to fetch water at the well.

 By around 5pm, the lazy boy started packing and complained of how Eva overworks them compared to other farm owners more over for the same fee. This boy could not remember that sometimes when they have few tasks to accomplish and they end farm work by 1pm especially during school time since Eva needs to return home earlier to pick the children from school. This time is normally compensated during school breaks. Eva noted the discouragement from other workers and they were in agreement with the lazy boy’s comment. They complained that the man who helps them to fetch water for fumigation has declined since that place is very slippery after the heavy rains. Eva told them not to worry about the water, she will fetch it but they needed to apply the pesticide as scheduled otherwise pests will attack the young maize of 3 weeks. You need to apply Black off after 21 days after planting, again fumigate after 21 days and then apply it after 21 days until the maize flowers. Some times it takes 3 or 4 times fumigating if you need good results. Whereas Fete Organics, you apply after 21 days and then fumigate every after 7 days for 3 more times. But in Uganda, we can spare even a dosage from the hospital once you start feeling better! So the workers were suggesting that they apply the fertilizers next week when they are not tired. Eva told the lazy boy to leave and she convinced the rest that they can do this task and get enough rest on Sunday and do other works next week. She totally agreed with them that she understood they were tired and it has been a long day. Eva offered to fetch water and they went back to job! In other words, Eva needed to apply some leadership, management and communication skills for the day's work to be completed. She released their payment with some bonuses but paid a flat fee to the lazy boy. She keeps wondering why they invite him whenever they need extra casual workers even after explaining to them that he will not be a blessing to her farm. Is it time to practice patience or get rid of him to spare the performance of other workers? 

You see, Eva once faced such a challenge while at university managing a student entrepreneurship business project. One of the six students in her company that she was acting as the general manager, would go to the beach every weekend when the rest were in the laboratory making herbal bathing soap. If she came during the week days, she would always be declaring negative comments about the business and how she hates this and the other meanwhile she is seated while the rest are doing the assigned tasks. Eva was forced to fire her which meant that she would also not participate in the academic programs until she gets a business project and she could also lose her scholarship. It was the hardest decision in Eva's life to fire that girl but she did it and her company became the best business of the year. This girl eventually got a project and she is now a powerful woman in Costa Rica. Eva was glad that towards her graduation, this same girl thanked Eva for awakening her!

 

In Uganda, we normally carry farm produce on head
from gardens and to the market. Courtesy, www.freepik.com.

Anyways, the day's targets were attained and Eva left the village at around 8pm. She was lucky to board a boda boda of a fellow farmer who is planting cucumber, very rare crop in Uganda. He told her of its productivity and profitability compared to tomatoes. Remember Eva plans to do tomato growing in kiboxi that she learned during the exhibition. So it was important to listen and ask useful questions to this boda boda man. Eva plans to visit his farm on her next farm trip for it sounded interesting! 

Eva is still trying to count the number of taxis they boarded to reach to the main town. They would board a taxi, it reaches the next trading centre, then it sells the passengers to another taxi. They negotiate with the new conductor and when they all know that they are soon reaching to their destination, suddenly the driver stops another taxi and they re-sell the passengers. Having a private car in Uganda is not a luxury, it is one of the basic needs that every person needs otherwise, you will be frustrated by the conductors and taxi drivers. Eva lost it with one of the conductors who asked her in particular to pay before boarding! She blew it up! Unfortunately, one of the children was listening and probably doing “copy and paste” in his little minds. The next taxi that sold them, the young boy came out of his deep sleep and shouted at the conductor, “we are going nowhere!”. Eva had to convince the boy to come out of the taxi. As parents, sometimes we need to let it go as we groom our children to be better citizens. They arrived home at around mid-day and they had to buy food from street vendors, fried rice/pillawo with beans and maize porridge. Not good food to feed on after the long day working but there were not much options! Eva did not carry any matooke for home use as it was too late to move with the luggage given the anticipated transport public means. This implies that she will have to depend on market vendors for matooke supplies during this week.

Eva desires such a truck on her farm, one day
so shall it be. Coutesy: www.freepik.com.

 Given last week’s experience on public transport, Eva is still wondering, should a farmer start by buying a private car first before buying farm land to avoid inconveniences or buy farm land first and bear the irritating taxis until you make enough sales to purchase a vehicle for farm use? Is buying a car in Uganda as a farmer a luxury or a necessity? Why do most people in Uganda bear the type of conduct from the taxi people? Imagine, it is now difficult, what will happen when we start selling our farm produce in large quantities. Won’t we be forced to sell them to the middlemen cheaply to avoid transport costs and inconveniences? Is it time to worry about this now or we move on with the production and we will cross the bridge when we get there? Eva cheers up the Masaka coffee farmers who are now driving expensive cars-Harriers and Pajero Land Crusers after the good harvest that has rewarded them with a lot of cash. They don't care whether they are living in a grass thatched house as long as the car is packed in the compound. We look forward to your points of view in the comment box below as Eva works out the way forward for the lazy boy at farm! Alternatively, she will recommend him to try applying for the newly advertised Posta Uganda jobs, Uganda's postal service company that distributes mails across the country. May be he can start a new career at United Nations (UN) Volunteer jobs in Uganda!

Why should a farmer go to agricultural shows, exhibitions and events?

The last two weeks have been a marathon and a pile up of organized and uncoordinated data, information, contacts, advise, meetups with old friends, sharing experiences and gathering knowledge attained from two agricultural events that were happening in central region. I am using this week to organize the collected materials and do the necessary follow-ups as we prepare for the upcoming POWESA event in September. Fortunately, I was a showgoer and not an exhibitor or event facilitator. This helped me to use most of my time in these events to prepare better for this second planting season. Early this year, I learned a lot from the big national event, Harvest Money Expo organized by New Vision which we normally have every February at the beginning of the first planting season. I mainly went for training sessions of coffee, bananas and urban farming.

 As I post this blog, I keep on thinking of how we and the government could have avoided the death tolls happening at Kiteezi garbage land fill where Kampala wastes are dumped. We can do better and recycle the 80% organic domestic wastes collected from towns and make organic fertilizers. Wastes can be converted into Ugandan shillings to US dollars and make us rich by making manures, electricity e.t.c. Kudos to Marula Proteen Limited for the partnership they have with KCCA to recycle the wastes and make organic Black Soldier Fly fertilizers. It is a good initiative that we can base on to go miles. Our sincere condolences to the families around Kitenzi and may God strengthen the relatives and friends.

 About Jinja Show

To proceed with today’s sharing, last month, on 26^th July, the 30^th Uganda National Agricultural Show 2024 event commonly known as Jinja Show commenced and ended on Friday, 4^th August 2024. It usually happens at the source of River Nile in Jinja city at Jinja Showgrounds. It is being organized by the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) in partnership with the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). I have been participating in this event ever since secondary school as an Agriculture student when I was in senior two that’s around 2000. I had just won the title of Miss Agriculture and by then I was very active in asking questions to the exhibitors as I was aiming at being the next Queen of Agriculture which eventually happened in 2004 while in A’level. During this year’s event, it was relieving to learn that the management has now separated the Agricultural educational show for students from the traditional Jinja show. I think it was a good idea as students overcrowd the event as they dance to the music in Uganda playing in different stalls. This time around, it was quiet and well-coordinated. Thanks to the new competitor, Harvest Money Expo which brought a difference in the event market.    

Exhibition section at Victory Business Convention 2024 

About Victory Business Convention

Shortly after the Jinja show, we had the 10^th Victory Men’s Business Convention on 7^th to 10^th August at Victory Christian Centre in Ndeeba near Mengo Kabaka’s palace (olubiri) on Masaka Road just before BMK House opposite Emerald Estate after Kibuye Roundabout within Rubanga Division in Kampala. This event is a combination of training seminar and exhibition mostly on farming and agricultural products and services.  The convention is organized by Victory Church Uganda, Impact FM, Dream TV and First Christian Credit Finance (FCCF) under Victory Men’s Ministry. It is being hosted by Apostle Dr. Serwadda Joseph and Mr. Joel Zziwa Mukisa. This was my second time to attend this particular business convention. To be honest, I had never heard of it before joining the Born-Again community. I actually tried to market it to my former colleagues in Agriculture sector but they seem not to have an idea of the occasion. To make matters worse, it was competing with the Jinja show for the second season in Uganda. Last year, I did not benefit a lot from the convention as I was up and down with the supplies of G25 African Coffee Summit in Munyonyo Resort in Kampala. This time I was settled and focused to learn of new ideas on how to improve our farm and make it more profit-making business venture.

 Why I did I go for these events?

Personally, I went to these events with two major objectives which included buying the local untreated maize seeds for planting in this season. If you read my post on planting maize in the second season 2024 you will get the background behind the search for local seed variety and not hybrid maize seeds. Another reason why I went for these events, I was seeking for an idea of the new enterprise which can generate for us the desired net profit on the farm. I actually prayed about it and sown a seed for the new idea and for God’s intervention to answer us as it was promised in the Bible, Matthew chapter 7 verses 7. To be honest, we are very busy on the farm but we are not making any money! It is not that we are not making sales of produce but what I mean here is that we are not making a positive cashflow (passive income) whether we work or we do not work as being taught by Robert Kiyosaki in his book of Rich Dad Poor Dad. We are busy in a rat race. We hope to start making passive money after a year or two when the cassava, banana and coffee have matured! This sometimes discourages the start-up farmers as they only do investing of money with no immediate returns! We needed a solution of an enterprise we can develop on the farm that can generate income within 3 to 6 months and grow in harmony with other crops since maize is not that friendly.

Did we achieve our set goals for participating in the agricultural events?

While in Jinja Show, I met Madam Babirye Winfred, I had visited her stall during Harvest Money Expo in Kololo early this year. She again convinced me that I needed to plant local maize seeds for sustainability of my farm. I have been in sales team with her in some organizations so I knew the language and that she was selling me her stuff! I listened to her, smiled as usual but I did not give her my attention. I again met Winnie in Jinja Show, telling me the same story.  I was not yet convinced if we really want to add more maize or we just plant the hybrid for this season and stop growing maize on our farm. This time, I promised to make purchase in the near future. Hardly did I know that I will meet the same person the following week at Victory Business Convention with the same gospel of “plant local maize”. I finally opened up and I shared our experience of hybrid seeds and she laughed it off and jokingly told me that “you will gather for yourself cancer of the body and of the pocket”. On the last day of the convention, I finally accepted and we bought some kilograms of local maize seeds. I respected her sales techniques of persistence.

Additionally, I gained the second objective which I almost missed had it not been for Impact FM program of High Flyer which is aired out every Wednesday from 7am to 8am and a repeat is done on the same day but at 8pm to 9pm on 98.4FM Kampala. On my way to Victory Business Convention, I listened to the featured High Flyer and there were two gentlemen: one was a farmer from His Grace Amazing Farm and another one was Joseph Ddugu, founder of Fete Organics. Joseph caught up my attention as he explained what God has instructed him to teach in the Business Convention for this year, 2024. He was very particular on how most farmers are frustrated of not making profits from their farming businesses especially those growing bananas (matooke). He shared his new idea of growing high value crops in boxes between banana plants (gagawala ne endima eyo mu kibosi). I listened to his calculations on the required costs and returns on investments within 3 to 6 months if you grow tomatoes or watermelon among other high value crops. I was impressed to the extent that it was his first stall to visit and get the business card before going anywhere else. During my visit at his stand, I learned of Fete Organics fertilizers, NPK and liquid foliar pesticide and manure which could cut our costs by almost half of the expenses we have been incurring in using the imported organic inputs. I also got to know of the herbal medicinal products and Joseph’s manual on being a millionaire from rearing local chickens in Uganda. Then I was connected to the lady who supplies high yielding climbing tomato seeds for growing in the box. It was good stuff and you could not resist from buying something! I spent money immediately without making circles like for the case of Winnie!

KCCA displaying Urban Farming technique for
rearing chicken (poultry), vegetable growing (horticulture)
and fish farming (aquaculture)

What advice do I give to fellow farmers before attending the exhibition, during and after the event?

In conclusion, I encourage fellow farmers (both starters and established farmers) to participate in these exhibitions and training seminars every year. They will facilitate you to learn of the new technologies; network with other people to share experiences; ask questions to find answers of unique problems you are faced at your farm and in your community; acquire knowledge and make informed decisions; buy quality agro-inputs from the producers themselves not traders, distributors or middlemen; and finally meet and laugh with old friends and new people, stress off!

However, for the farmer to benefit more in these events, you need to be specific on the reason or goal as to why you are attending these exhibitions before going to the events. Write down your goals; calculate the costs involved for your education; decide on what you will buy if it is available; how much you will spend in that event regardless of the exhibited products; and pray about it for God’s guidance and divine connections. If you just show up at the event, you will end up buying everything the sales person convinces you to purchase. After the event, sit down and go through your notes, organize the contacts and make priority of which people you need to call and visit their farms or premises. Plan on what technologies you will put in practice. Immediately, start the implementation of the new thing you have learned. Then in the future event, share the results with the fellow farmers or with the exhibitor/facilitator to advise you more as you will be his or her case study to encourage other farmers.

In future, I will share the results of what we have learned from these events. I will also be happy to hear from you of things you have gained by participating in these agricultural events. Please post your experiences or questions in the comments below. Thank you!

Getting along with casual workers on farm

 As we celebrate our new Miss Uganda 2024, I thought of how every girl wants to be in that place but circumstances could not allow them even after acquiring degrees. In Uganda, it is very challenging to find workers including casual workers to work on farm. Farming as an activity is categorized to be a dirty job whereas young people who dominate the population of Uganda prefer white collar jobs or prestigious positions like Miss Uganda or Member of Parliament or Councilor. Jobs in Uganda are not easy to find for both the educated and non-educated. If you do not find a relative to connect you, it is by luck and God's mercy to acquire an employment in Uganda on merit. Of course, this is highly attributed to corruption in Uganda and favoritism where some people don't mind about the quality of job done but prefer a cousin or brother to have a salary. Uganda's jobs are also scarce for there are few opportunities being created by industries compared to the graduates that come out of universities every year. 

Some youth try to apply for jobs in agencies such as NFT Consults while others visit and subscribe to different job websites such as everjobs, brightmonday among others. If someone is not carefully, you can easily find yourself at betpawa Uganda or Fortbet Uganda loging in hoping to multiply the little money you have and earn more to survive in Kampala. High living standards in urban areas have also led some youth and adults to migrate from urban areas to rural places after failing to find a job. While others who can afford find travel agents who promise them to go and work abroad in Canada, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other states in the United Arab Emirates to do casual jobs. They are normally referred to as kadama or security guards e.t.c. Can you imagine a master's degree holder working as a househelp or security personnel?! If you are lucky and you not being conned by the agency, you will get on the Uganda airlines and for the first live and work abroad. According to the statistics of Central Bank of Uganda, some of these people mark their first time to open up bank accounts with Equity Bank, Exim Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Africa e.t.c. While others it is their initial stage of getting into the fores bureau to exchange Ugandan shillings to US dollars. I mean different life which is very exciting in the first couple of days until they face the truth of living and working abroad where culture and food is different. 

We have also watched on different televisions such as NTV Uganda where they normally feature stories of the Ugandans that were conned by the travel agents and they never travelled while others managed to travel but went through tough times and had to return. The returnees most of the times have sold out their properties including their inherited family farm land. Some of them are afraid of meeting their friends, former workmates, OBs and OGs so they return, they go to the village and live with relatives who are also struggling in their own ways. When they manage to associate with old child friends that remained in the village especially the school drop outs, they get connections to work in different farms. Now these are some of the people we find in the village that are seeking for casual works. They are depressed, frustrated, divorced or separated and they hate every thing about themselves. 

A casual worker sowing soya bean seeds

Since our family farm is closer to town, we have had a chance of working with all the kind of casual workers including returnees from middle east. There is a time we needed support in digging out holes for planting maize and we went to the local radio "kizidalo" where they make announcements for the village. For instance, if someone dies, they pass the announcement on that kizidalo and fundraise from there. So we took our announcement that we needed workers to dig holes and they will be paid after verifying their work. Young and old men came to take up the job. Most of them were already drunk by 7am and others were all smelling marijuana while some of them had injuries on their faces and hands. Two of them came with their "ludo" game board to play from the garden while others were busy surfing on betting websites. Anyways, we started working. After work, I had instructed the boy who helps to give me a call after verifying their job and I send them payment via mobile money. Unfortunately, I got engaged in a meeting and I returned his call later in the evening. 

The boy could not say much but he kept on lamenting. He told me not to send the money until I reach the farm. I also took it easy as I had a planned trip to the farm. On reaching at the farm, I found all the cassava was dug out, sugarcane were cut down and bananas were taken. I asked him what happened. Then he explained that the workers needed their money immediately on their last hoe. He narrated that he tried to explain to them that payment will be made in the evening after working day. They could not listen. All they wanted was their money regardless of the work being verified or waiting for few hours to send the cash on mobile money. They dug out cassava and took it to the trading center then sold it cheaply. After that they returned to the bar and others went to betting while the rest joined the group of drug takers and started playing ludo. 

We learned our lessons from that day. Ever since then, we make sure that we have cash at hand if not, the cash is already deposited on the boy's phone before taking announcement to the kizidalo. We have also grouped the kind of work to give them such as making holes after marking, slashing and weeding. We do not offer them activities where they need to do a lot of thinking or memorizing. We also agree to work per area coverage instead of the daily work load. We noted if we contracted them at a daily rate, they spend most of the time taking their drinks on their way to have lunch. I personally don't go there when they are working as some can easily abuse any woman. My partner always takes care of their duties. They are of great importance to the village and work force but you have to deal with them with a lot of care. We have been thinking of hiring prisoners to support us during rainy seasons when the weeds are growing too fast. It also has its pros and cons that we are yet to face.

Anyways, that has been our experience so far. How has been your experience with the casual workers on your farm? Looking forward to hearing from you soon and learn more on strategies of effectively engaging the casual workers for mutual benefits.

Living with the community, power of silence and forgiveness while farming

 One of the challenges I have so far noted is how to effectively manage a family small farm while living miles a way from the land at the same time having a formal job or business or consultancy works. I had got a new consultancy job and I was going through orientation and milestone development. My other family members were also busy with school and career development. I depended on the casual field workers to get feedback of what was happening on farm via phone calls, what we call telephone farming. It was about a month for us to visit the farm then we went to the village for Christmas holidays and family get together.

Early January at the beginning of the year in preparation for new season, I finally went to the farm to visit without any warnings or phone calls. I would be honest to say that I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go there. It was not in my weekly plans. I used a different route from the usual one and got into the farm in unexpected move. I was surprised to find a neighbor packing a sac of cassava before the field traders and one of the boys at the farm. I reached at the exact point of exchanging money and I had an opportunity of seeing how much they were paid. It was not a good moment for both parties but I smiled and they proceeded with the transaction. After that, the young man brought money to me and he told me that they had plans of sending me the sales via mobile money. I again smiled and asked him how much money he was demanding me. I told him to deduct it from the cassava sales they had made. 

We proceeded to the coffee section and I noted that someone harvested coffee and branches were broken all over. I paused and I was wondering what happened. Then the young man again explained before I asked that while he was a way for Christmas holidays, some neighbors and her children came at night and harvested all the coffee. I again smiled at him and reminded the young man that it was that family that hosted me and my family the first time we camped in that village. Then we proceeded and I saw the ripened bananas and some that were not cut well. This time, the boy did not say anything. Then we passed by the nearby house of an old woman. We found her eating one of the produce from our farm, they are unique and she did not have them in her garden. She quickly panicked and asked me how did I come, when did I come, how come I did not make any phone call.....I could see her heart pumping very fast. Then I smiled at her and comforted her that all is well, and in fact I had brought for her some soap and bread as I normally do for the elderly women in that village. She waited for me to say anything about her act but I instead bid farewell and appreciated her for keeping well my farm as a good neighbor. On my way out of her compound, we met the key suspect of coffee harvesting. I humbly knelt down as a culture in Buganda and greeted her. After that I left back to town.

The following week, I started on the new strategy of developing short-termed crops which will require my family members to do frequent visits at least once a week or once in 14 days. That's how we started projects of maize, vegetables, beans, groundnuts, cowpeas and soya beans. By the time, I returned to the village, our farm had gained total respect. I found a talk in the village that I was a witch and every one was warned not to touch anything on my farm otherwise the "silent smiling woman" may be cooking up something. I listened to the talks and wondered why someone referred me to be a witch! But later I learnt that it was the secret of learning how to forgive and not keep grudges at heart. In fact, I did not share the details back home with exception of coffee which is currently the man's project and he has his eyes on that gold. I had to communicate such that he does not expect a lot from the field as there were some natural hazards that had affected the ripened coffee! He believed me but later I explained that I was covering up for the family that was involved. Up to today, he does not know which family was involved, he wished to know them but I kept it to myself. I acquired the skill of the power of silence and total forgiveness from R.T.Kendall as explained in the video below: 

Video explaining steps to Total Forgiveness 

In conclusion, I also had to forgive myself and my family for abandoning the farm for that long. Then I sought forgiveness from God who trusted us with the farm but we got busy looking for money and chasing our careers. Because, I needed forgiveness, It was a MUST to forgive such that my Father in heaven can also forgive my debts and acquire protection of our farm from thieves. Ever since then, we find matooke ripe, sugarcane and jackfruits all over. No one can touch them for God has protected our farm and put fear to our neighbors. They report each other in case they see anyone trespassing our farm. One time, we were busy on farm and one of my children had gone to buy drinking water from the nearby trading center. He was accidently knocked by the boda boda. It was a hit and run. The same families that I had forgiven rushed quickly and gave him first aid and sent one the children to call us. We all rushed to the clinic as a family and a community. I imagined if I had made these people pay off everything they had stolen from my farm, would they have gone this extra mile to help our child?!

 Please share with us some things that once happened at your farm and how you responded and what were the outcomes of your response.