Ecological organic agriculture is at the heart of Kulika’s community development program, which focuses on training farmers in organic agriculture through experiential learning, practical work, on-farm experimentation, and demonstrations.
Principles and Practices of Ecological Organic Agriculture
Kulika is committed to disseminating the ideals of ecological organic agriculture, which is a kind of agriculture in which agricultural land is cultivated without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides, growth regulators, or livestock feed additives. Kulika works in numerous locations of Uganda, educating and training local people towards a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with their land and environment in order to increase health, food security, and family incomes in rural agricultural communities.
Soil Fertility and Water Conservation
Kulika helps farmers boost productivity through higher soil fertility and water retention. Farmers are educated in the creation and use of organic manures, e.g., compost, plant teas, and other liquid manures, and the use of cover crops. They are also educated in various tactics for soil and water conservation. These include the use of physical structures or barriers, such as stability contours, cut-off drains, and water retention ditches.
Crop Husbandry
Kulika teaches organic agricultural production methods such as agronomic approaches for a variety of crops, organic pest and disease control methods, the use of resistant crop varieties, cover crops and dead mulch for weed control, and nutrient replenishment.
Cattle Husbandry
Kulika trains farmers to produce and maintain cattle in a sustainable manner. The necessity of excellent animal husbandry enables farmer groups diversify their produce, better their health and nutrition, and raise their money.
Farm Business Management
Kulika trains farmers to operate more sustainably and to focus on farming as a business while enhancing their business and management abilities in the process. The charity has also helped farmers function in a supply capacity where suitable, enhancing their knowledge of commerce, economics, and business.
Farm Power and Appropriate Technology
Kulika trains farmers to build and deploy technology that fits with the principles of ecological organic agriculture without hurting the environment. Kulika educates farmers in the principles of hygiene and sanitation and teaches them how to build the equipment connected to these.
Foods and Nutrition
Kulika instructs farmers on the different food stuffs, including staple legumes and the nutritional worth of fruit and vegetables, through practical demonstrations, dialogues, and trips to hospital child nutrition departments. The training also covers food cleaning, handling, preparation of meals, presentation, the serving procedure, and preservation.
Gender Analysis and Family Life Education
Kulika trains clients in gender analysis and family life education. This encompasses the gender roles and tasks of men and women in families and communities. Kulika also enhances the capacity of communities to solve rights-based concern
Agro-Forestry and Environmental Management
Kulika aims to strengthen the capacity of local communities to safeguard and conserve natural resources. This includes the preparation of tree nurseries and the planting of multi-purpose trees. Farmers are being trained on the consequences of deforestation, which is shifting opinions.
Marketing
Farmers are trained on the need of meeting standards when marketing locally and efficiently exporting organic produce to global markets.
Capacity-building and the promotion of certification allow farmers to negotiate prices for their goods with firms from a superior position.
Farmer-to-Farmer Extension and Training Programs
Farmers are picked by members of their group and return to their areas following training to share skills and knowledge with their group members about what they have learnt. Farmers are trained in steps that enable them to apply and adapt new knowledge while sharing it in their communities.