From Nothing to Something, Ms Lodo is Proud of DRDIP
From childhood, Lodo always paid attention to farmers in her village discuss livestock and although she admired them, she never thought she would ever get a chance to contribute to their discussions because she didn’t own any animal.
Sarah Lodo 39, had always been passionate about livestock farming even when she didn’t have startup capital. The mother of three is a resident of Marila village, Ciforo Sub County in Adjumani district. She is a member of, Amoro Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) Group supported by the Livelihoods support component of DRDIP.
From childhood, Lodo always paid attention to farmers in her village discuss livestock and although she admired them, she never thought she would ever get a chance to contribute to their discussions because she didn’t own any animal.
“Now I believe that dreams can really come true”, she remarked during a donor -World Bank Mission visit to her village. She confessed, “those days when people in my village would talk about their animals, I would keep quiet, and just admire them, but nowadays I am a big participant, can you imagine?”.
Today, Lodo’s dream is indeed alive because of DRDIP support to her group. She has finally made it to a proud livestock keeper.
Lodo’s progress started with a loan of Ugx550,000/- which she got from her Amoro VSLA group. Her group benefited from the DRDIP Village Revolving Fund(VRF). She used the money to plant two acres of maize from where she harvested 12 bags (1200Kgs) at the end of that rainy season two years ago.
“I sold nine bags and earned Ugx 1,500,000/- and bought a cow after clearing school fees for my children”. Lodo named her first cow DRDIP, out of excitement about the project. When her cow produced for the first time; she named the calf, VRF in recognition of the source of funding that came through DRDIP to her group.
Early this year within the week of the IGAD learning visit to Adjumani, Lodo’s cow gave birth and she decided to call the second calf IGAD. Lodo is focused to have more than 50 animals in five years. “With cattle, you have milk that earns money to buy other foods, clothes and pay school fees”, she said.