Kitchen gardening for increased access to diversified and nutritious foods in the Rwamwanja refugee settlement

The Rwamwanja refugee settlement faces significant challenges in ensuring access to diversified and nutritious foods. Refugees are allocated limited land – averaging 0.037 acres per household – which must accommodate both their homestead and gardening needs. This limited land, combined with a reliance on staple crops like maize and beans, restricts the production of nutrient-rich vegetables, exacerbating food insecurity and poor dietary diversity among refugees and host communities. 

Woman harvesting small paprikas or chilies.
Getrude Mukamyagwe from Mahega zone, Rwamwanja refugee settlement harvests vegetables to prepare a household meal.

Key Findings 

In HealthyFoodAfrica project, the Food Systems Lab Rwamwanja introduced kitchen gardening as a sustainable solution to optimize land use and improve household nutrition. This initiative utilized a community-based extension approach led by 10 Village Enterprise Agents (VEAs) who facilitated vegetable production among refugees and host community households. The intervention included training, seed distribution, and the establishment of centralized nursery beds and demonstration plots. 

  • Training and Capacity Building: VEAs were trained on vegetable agronomy, organic fertilizer and pesticide preparation. They, in turn, trained 36 participant groups comprising refugees and host community members. 
  • Seed Distribution and Support: A variety of vegetable seeds were distributed based on site-specific suitability and nutritional value. Each household received a minimum of four vegetable species. 
  • Establishment of Demo Plots: Central nursery beds and 72 demonstration plots were created, fostering skills transfer and promoting peer learning among farmers. 

The focus was on traditional and seasonally adaptable vegetable varieties to ensure consistent harvests and long-term seed availability. This approach emphasized vegetables with high nutritional benefits, including African small white eggplants, spinach, sukuma wiki, amaranthus, pumpkins, and more. 

Benefits and Impact 

The intervention reached 1,000 households, with 815 households sustaining kitchen gardens 18 months post-establishment. Key outcomes included: 

  • Enhanced Dietary Diversity: Households maintained gardens with three or more vegetable species, ensuring access to fresh, nutrient-dense foods. 
  • Improved Nutrition: Refugee households reported increased vegetable consumption, particularly by women and infants, leading to improved health outcomes. For example, vegetables were found to enhance infant appetite and reduce common issues like constipation. 
  • Community Resilience: The project fostered a sense of self-reliance, with participants gaining the skills and resources to sustain vegetable production independently. 
  • Skill Transfer: Demonstration plots and group-based training accelerated technology adoption and improved agricultural practices among both refugees and host communities. 

Practical Recommendations 

  • Expand Training Programs: Continue building the capacity of VEAs and lead farmers to scale the initiative and ensure sustainable knowledge transfer. 
  • Ensure Regular Seed Access: Establish community seed banks to support continuous vegetable production and improve access to diverse seeds. 
  • Promote Inclusive Participation: Engage more households and encourage women’s involvement to maximize nutritional impacts across communities. 
  • Leverage Demo Plots: Use demonstration plots as hubs for innovation, peer learning, and community outreach. 

Contact Information 

Stephen Ssenkima 

Head of Programs Finn Church Aid Uganda Program 

Stephen.Ssenkima@kirkonulkomaanapu.fi 

 

Frank Tukamuhebwa 

Agriculture Extension Officer 

Frank.tukamuhebwa@kua.fi