A joint monitoring visit of the Fostering Sustainable Agriculture through Environmental Resilience (FASTER) project was conducted on the 21st and 22nd of February 2023. The visit involved key members from FOAG (Farmers Overseas Action Group) and EADEN (Eastern Arch Diocesan Development Network), as well as representatives from the participating cooperatives.

On the first day of the visit, the team visited BUFAMACOS and observed the bulking process in the store. The team engaged with the farmers, discussing the performance of the “Waste Less” funds. BUFAMACOS farmers expressed their gratitude to FOAG for the support received and expressed their desire for additional support to scale up their initiatives. FOAG was impressed with the cooperative’s progress and committed to providing more funds, depending on their continued positive results. Mr. Nabil requested the contact information of the BUFAMACOS manager for direct communication on “Waste Less” issues. On the same day, the team visited the EGA demo garden of Mugenyi Stephen. Despite the dry season conditions, the team appreciated the establishment of leguminous shrubs and the integration of livestock, highlighting the project’s commitment to sustainable practices.

The team continued their visit by heading to Nawaningi cooperative, where they explored the three demo gardens (for Babra, Kazimoto, and Muguna) in Buluguyi. Despite facing drought conditions, the team observed that the leguminous shrubs were thriving. The farmers expressed their appreciation to FOAG for the support and identified their major challenge as water scarcity. They requested irrigation equipment if possible.

On the final day of the visit, FOAG and EADEN convened a meeting at the secretariat, where they discussed matters related to “Waste Less” and the Ever Green Agriculture (EGA) project. Progress reports on “Waste Less” and EGA were presented to the visitors. The team acknowledged that EADEN is on the right track, although significant changes in the performance of the demo gardens may take time to materialize. Mr. Nabil, Chairperson of FOAG, emphasized Michael’s commitment to EGA and confirmed ongoing support, contingent upon the receipt of the M&E report.

The monitoring visit reaffirmed the commitment of FOAG, EADEN, and the participating cooperatives to the FASTER project. Despite challenges such as drought, the project continues to make progress in promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience. The collaboration between FOAG, EADEN, and the farmers remains a driving force for positive change in the community