Field visit to monitor the lemon grass project in Uganda

Report on the field trip in Uganda

Maiko Ohnishi from Global Bridge Network (GBN) from Global Bridge Network visited a Japan Fund for GlobalEnvironment supported project which deals in expansion of lemon grass cultivation and environmental protection in Uganda.

Ohnishi visited the youth who previously participated in the lemongrass cultivation and environmental protection training.

This picture shows the lemongrass he cultivated after the completing the training.

　

Youth who took a training

Youth started lemon grass growing in his area

 The land is filled with gravel and granite rocks but lemongrass is a very strong and when properly cultivated, can grow in between stones and rocks. 

Lomongrass growing between the rocks

This helps in preventing soil degradation by water runoff which finally leads to environmental conservation.  

Somkes burning cultivated area by local residents 

On the other hand, the smoke seen at the background of above picture shows the residents burning land including cultivated areas. Burning of land leads to environmental degradation and from here we can tell that the general public has poor knowledge about environmental conservation. 

Local NGO, SORAK CEO showing how to cut grass for youth

Such a small child helping

Increase in environmental protection awareness training is therefore very important in the future. Creating environmental conservation awareness among school children can also contribute to environmental protection. Thus, our project includes teaching children in local schools about the environment.

SORAK buys the lemon grass after it is harvested. The first harvest is done just 3-4 months after planting and each tone of harvested raw lemon grass is bought at about 285 USD. This income helps to send a child to school for a year.

SORAK owns lemongrass distillator

Putting lemongrass

View from the front

Build a fire

　

Essential lemongrass oil 

 Lemongrass oil is extracted from the lemongrass at the distillery owned by SORAK and the sales are used to improve (household) income.  

　

The youth who receive training go on to cultivate lemongrass which results in both environmental protection and income improvement. This project therefore has a positive impact and GBN will continue to support it.  Thank you!

Next report will be about the "environmental education and awareness campaigns" conducted in local schools for children 

*This project is supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration (JFGE) and by Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA)

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