For a long time, Faizal was a struggling farmer.
Faizal lives in Kampala, Uganda where many people make a living by doing all sorts of jobs but he chose farming.He grows tomatoes and passion fruit in Luwero district of Uganda.
Day after day, Faizal and his fellow small-farmers in Luweero were working hard in their fields, but they were not producing enough crops. They always wondered how they would feed their families and overcome poverty without good harvests.
Sultan Faizal Ssemwanga with wife Angel Ssemwanga
Then Faizal took a brave step that changed his harvests for the better. He joined a community farmers group organized by World Renew’s local partner, SATHI.
In this group, farmers were trained in new agriculture techniques to help them increase their crop yields.
Faizal was surprised to learn that the chemical fertilizers and pesticides that many of the farmers were using could damage the land and make it even more difficult to produce healthy crops.
Faizal also learned about environmentally-friendly agriculture practices, such as composting, seeds preservation and the use of organic pesticides. By using organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizers, he could help increase the fertility of the soil. he also realized what a difference it would make for his family if he could grow his own nutritious fruits, crops and vegetables that they could incorporate into their diet.
Agricultural training equipped Faizal to see new ways that the farmers in his community could do things. With great excitement, he started to put what he had learned into practice. He began growing tomatoes and passion fruit on his newly acquired hectare of land which he had just bought within the area—a project that cost him about UShs 6.3 million. His wife was glad to help him with this new endeavor.
Within a few days, Faizal’s tomatoes and passion fruit plants were full of fruit.He was thrilled to have tomatoes and passion fruit that he and his family could use at home and then also sell commercially.He made a profit of about 14.3 million by selling their tomatoes and passion fruit.
Sultan Faizal Ssemwanga
At first, many of the farmers in Faizal’s community were skeptical about the new agricultural methods he was using.Could these changes really help them improve their harvests? But Faizal was confident in his practices.He was also passionate about sharing what he had learned with other farmers.So he invited farmers to come and visit his garden and see his success. When these farmers saw proof of Faizal’s success, they were also inspired to try these new, environmentally-friendly methods for themselves.
Today, Faizal continues to thrive and he is a strong leader. As one of trained peer farmers in his community, he finds great joy in training and mobilized new farmers in techniques that help give them enough food for their families.
“By applying what I learned through World Renew programs, I became a successful farmer,” said Faizal.
“I believe and hope that all local farmers will use compost and organic pesticides in their kitchen garden one day,”he adds.
When asked what advice he would give to the farmers Faizal says “success is all about commitment and hard work.And also if you have the capability to buy a pump at the garden,it is better to have it since the climate is un predictable nowdays.”
Socially, Sultan Faizal is a very passionate football fanatic who supports Arsenal and Barcelona.He revealed that he is soon starting a football club in Luweero.
He is a family man with a fiancée whom he loves so much and will soon marry officially.Her name is Ms Angel Ssemwanga.
