Organisation Profile

Agency for Integrated Rural Development (AFIRD) was founded in 1997 by a group of professionals who realized the need for an integrated approach to rural development given their experience.

Vision
A society free from hunger and diseases living in a peaceful and green environment

Mission
We aim at improving the livelihood of vulnerable communities through capacity building in sustainable natural resources management to increase income.

Strategic Objectives
•    Increasing household incomes by 50% in our target area by 2013

The strategic options are in the following areas;
•    Agriculture and environment
•    Market access and
•    Human rights

Achievements
With support from Environmental Alert, in 2002 we gave out seven in-calf heifers to seven farmer groups in Namayumba Sub-county, Wakiso district. The animals became the core for the Bubusi co-operative society which has grown to a membership of over 500 farmers and now are the out-growers for JESA Dairy farm that processes milk and markets the society in Uganda.

We provided banana management training which has rejuvenated its production in Wakiso district and the surrounding areas.

Our organic support to farmers has improved food security and the environment among the communities of Namayumba sub-county in Wakiso district

With AFIRD support, 56 farmers from Namayumba and Kakiri have been transformed from scavenging of honey (bee hunting) to production using modern techniques.

Goat management among the farmers in the three sub counties of Busiro North has been transformed from the traditional methods where goats kept were indigenous and not housed to a new modern system where goats are housed in appropriate shelters. This has improved their health which also enables manure collection.

Energy efficient stoves which were introduced by AFIRD in Namayumba sub-county way back in 2002 have spread like a bush fire in the three sub-counties of Wakiso district and beyond. It is estimated that the use of these stoves have grown to about 50% of the farming household in the area. With the support given by AFIRD, farmers are now able to make mobile energy saving stoves which they sell to clients.