Food Security Program

What is Food Security?

Food Security: the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritous food. Food security has declined dramatically in many developing countries.

"Before 'Food Security Program' we were very poor, no food and no clothing for the children. Then God brought us the program. First we were given goats, we used the manure on the land. Then we were given a cow. Now we have our own crops and we can feed our family. We sold a calf and purchased material for this house. 'Food Security' has taught us so much - Savings and Credit, animal husbandry, preparing income generating projects, HIV training, family planning, and fighting violence against women and children. We still need more training to help us become able to help ourselves and others in the area." - Josephine

The Food Security Program was initiated by the Kigeme Anglican Diocese in 2000. The Udder Project took over funding of this program in 2010. Since then, we have trained two veterinarians and 17 veterinary assistants. We support 17 different areas in the Kigeme Diocese that are suffering from poverty.
The Food Security Team is comprised of two veterinarians, an agronomist, a social worker, a coordinator and a part time accountant.
We focus on the training of the local people in animal husbandry, agriculture and social development such as family planning, AIDS prevention and violence prevention.
The long term goal is to end poverty in these areas and to create an environment of self - sustainability.

Food Security Update December 2022

This very important project is still going and we are still supporting the people of the Kigeme Diocese. Unfortunately we have been unable to travel there since the beginning of the pandemic. We are hoping to go again in the summer of 2023. Fortunately, we do receive updates regularly from our friends in Rwanda.

There have been some significant changes occurring in the Diocese as of August 28th, 2022, and these changes do affect the Food Security Program (FSP). The Kigeme Diocese has birthed a new Diocese called Nyaraguru. The new Bishop there is Bishop Vincent (who used to be the pastor at Cyivugiza). He is a wonderful man, a forward thinker and will be excellent in his new role. But, with the new Diocese, some of the parishes that were once under Kigeme Diocese are now under this new Diocese.

The biggest change affecting the FSP is that Archdeacon, Dr Felicien is now a part of the new Diocese. As such, he can no longer be the veterinarian of FSP or the manager of the MCC in the Kigeme Diocese. He maintains a role as a veterinarian in the new Diocese (as well as archdeacon). The current social worker is also in the new Diocese – she is Bishop Vincent’s wife and so will no longer be in a role of social worker. 5 of the veterinary technicians (AVI’s) are also in the new Diocese.

This leaves the veterinary and social worker roles of the Kigeme Diocese FSP vacant.
The FSP in Kigeme still has an agronomist and 9 AVI’s. They are actively trying to replace the veterinarian and social worker but have not yet replaced them. Despite that, the Food Security Team is still going strong promoting improved agriculture practices in the Food Security Sites that are still within the Kigeme Diocese.

As for the new Diocese Nyaraguru, they are trying to establish a Food Security Program in sites previously supported by the Kigeme Diocese. With Dr Felicien and the 5 AVIs present, they are helping but, have a challenging road ahead of them.

Aspects of Food Security needing support:

1. Food Security Infrastructure:
- salaries for the Food Security Team
- stipends for the veterinary technicians
- transport to the various sites for monitoring

2. Training:
- teaching the beneficiaries and promoting good animal husbandry
- continued training for the veterinary technicians
- agriculture training to produce food for the families and for the livestock.
- training on social issues and development (family planning, AIDS prevention Education, Violence Prevention)
- development of group cooperatives to lead to a self- sustainable program (savings and credit training, income generating projects)

3. Livestock and Agriculture
- the purchase of livestock such as goats and pigs for the beneficiaries
- supplying seeds for crops

4. Veterinary Supplies
- the purchase of medications for the livestock and surgical supplies for the veterinarians and veterinary technicians

As far as Udder Project Support is concerned, we are still sending salaries for existing employees of the FSP in Kigeme Diocese as well as supporting Dr Felicien and the 5 AVI’s in the new Diocese.

This is becoming increasingly difficult due to the effects of Covid on our economy. Fundraising has not been possible and we find it hard to ask people to support these projects when their needs have also increased.
We are very fortunate that we have very loyal supporters that have continued to send us funding in order to continue paying the salaries for the FSP in both Dioceses. We thank them for their loyal support.

We will need to see how this next year progresses as to our ability to continue our support of these essential projects.