Uganda Sironko

Description

Uganda Sironko

Region – Budadiri, Mt. Elgon
Producer – Smallholder farmers supplying to Olam Uganda
Altitude – 1500-1850 masl

Specifics – The story goes that during the famine centuries ago, the tribes moved east and stumbled across a river which proved their saviour.  They named it “Sironko”, meaning “solace and peacefulness” in the Lumasaba language, spoken by the ethnic locals on the slopes of Mount Elgon.  Olam’s washing station is located in Budadiri subcounty near the famous river and processes coffee cherries from the surrounding communities, still sustained by this abundant water supply.

Olam provides “Good Agricultural Practices” (GAP) Training for partner farmers to help improve quality, productivity and yield, as well as agro inputs and seedlings.  Their Sironko team also operate women and youth empowerment programs; running workshops addressing attitudinal change on resource ownership, acquisition and family participation, as well as creating farmer savings and loans groups to encourage long term economic stability in the community.