While farming dream looked nearly impossible at some point for Anthony Opoka, giving up was never an option, his unwavering spirit proven by commitment in farming singled him out for enterprise specific training.
Opoka Anthony, a south Sudanese refugee living in Village six, Eden Zone, Rhino Camp Refugee settlement, Terego District was identified by Omia Agribusiness Agent Sebit Aricanjilo to attend enterprise specific training where inputs were sold at subsidized prices, farmers paying only 30% of the actual price of the inputs.
Through the opportunity, Anthony bought subsidized watermelon seeds and ventured into watermelon production as we supported him with technical and extension support. He has so far harvested one quarter, two quarters are at the flowering stage. “I also bought onion seeds on subsidy which I’m preparing to put in the nursery bed “he says.
As many smallholder farmers struggle to access reliable and profitable markets to sell their products at fair prices, Anthony’s story was different. As soon as watermelon fruits showed signs of maturity, Agent Sebit Aricanjilo contacted Omia Foods which is the marketing arm of Omia Agribusiness team to assess fruit quality and offset at the same.
Being aware of the benefits of farming, Opoka Anthony hopes to be an inspiration and a model farmer in his village and encourage other refugees to embrace farming for sustainable food security. He states;” I am going to connect idle people in my village to Omia Agribusiness to access quality seeds and technical support and also direct them to best enterprises like watermelon production where I’ve earned a huge amount of money which I hadn’t earned in very many years”
Omia Agents bridge the gap of last mile access to quality inputs,agregate demands in the communities and organize farmer trainings however, Omia Agribusiness Development group has facilitated enterprise specific training where inputs are sold on subsidy in Rhino Camp and Biddi-biddi Refugee settlement of Terego,Madi-Okollo and Yumbe . Empowering Farmers especially refugees mean enhancing their livelihood and well-being, building self-sustaining and resilient societies to shape the future.
