My name is Ndawula Samuel, I come from the village of Nayiise in Mityana district. I am a farmer with Hiinga. Hiinga’s coming to my village was a miracle that I had been praying for for a while. We didn’t invite them to choose this village or to do whatever they have done here, they just showed up, and that was a miracle.

I have 5 children and one wife. Three of my children were in candidate classes and one was going to university and I didn’t exactly know how I was going to manage paying for their school fees but since Hiinga provided me an opportunity, I have worked hard and paid all their schools fees and done so much more.

It was in July of 2012 when Ivan Ssina, a native of our area came with guys from Hiinga and told us that they wanted to partner with us to enable us farm better and so that we can turn a profit from our work and fight poverty.  I particularly was very skeptical initially, because I wasn’t sure it would work as the crops they wanted to help us farm, bird eye chills and hot peppers had been attempted in our area and failed. Pests and diseases had attacked and destroyed the crops, swallowing all our labor and investment – leaving us with nothing. I was rather very hesitant, if not opposed, to give it another try.

But Hiinga calmed our fears when they told us that they would provide training from the first to the last step, and also provide affordable financing get the appropriate seed and organic chemicals to fight the pests and diseases. So when they came, they introduced us to the project and trained us on how we could farm better. Moreover, they also facilitated a market for us, so that our products would be bought.

We started the journey with making seed beds and looking after them, we then prepared the main land, after which we began the process of transplanting the seedlings to the main garden. All this was hard work but the most challenging was weeding and spraying the crops; this was really hard work to do. However, God helped us and was on our side and when we started to harvest and to sell, we began to see the rewards of our hard work.

I started harvesting in January of this year and I have just wound up with harvesting for the first season. I have gotten a lot of benefits through working with Hiinga. I used to harvest twice every week and I would earn money every two weeks.   I managed to pay for all my children’s school fees who were mostly candidates and the one at university and that was a big relief as I didn’t know where I was going to get the money to do that. Further, I also managed to improve on my house by buying windows and doors that were not on the house before because I couldn’t afford them. The money has also helped look after my family well and our lives have indeed improved due to our better earnings.   Most importantly I am on course to repay all the money that was invested in me and for that I thank God.

If given another chance, I want to continue farming with Hiinga as I have gained a lot of success with them and proved that indeed they can help us fight poverty and fulfill our dreams. I now have a plan of starting my own chicken farm to sale eggs and also to own my own cows for milk. In order for me to do that I need to have clean water readily available at home so I want to save and build a water tank to harvest and store rain water. I believe that if I continue farming with Hiinga I will achieve my dream.

I believe that Hiinga can actually help people get out of poverty. It is evident with me in this short period. Therefore I want to thank Hiinga for partnering with me and my family and I request them to keep on partnering with us. I don’t regret farming with Hiinga because I would not have been able to achieve what I have achieved without this opportunity.

A common theme in Andrew’s books and his talks is the argument that African needs trade and not aid, an echo of a reverberating Dambisa Moyo voice – that aid is ineffective, it creates dependency, and thousands of billions of dollars given to Africa over time have achieved nothing. The verdict: Dead Aid.  I have not found any accurate figures of how much AID has been given to Africa in the last 50 years, but its generally estimated to be between $500B to $1 Trillion (almost one tenth of the GDP of the USA). Like Moyo, Andrew decries the negative impact that aid has had on African economies through entrenching bureaucracies and dictatorships and inadvarntently creating systems that don’t work. Like me, he argues for trade: open up markets, cut the bureaucracy and invest in things that create jobs – the most jobs.

One of the short comings that critics have found in Andrew’s narrative is that it systemically promotes trade and castigates aid. I think the intention of Andrew was to capture the mind of the reader and to emphasize the neglected question of trade and commerce in the role of developing poor communities around the world and create a path to sustainability and dignity. In a short period of Hiinga’s existence, we know that markets matter more. Our mantra is “teach a man to farm and he will not go hungry. Connect him to a market and he will prosper.” But we know only too well that without the donations and/or grants to help us start financing the unreached farmers to get onto the path of sustainability, it would be difficult. The most important issue therefore is how to combine commerce with smart aid that is not dead – aid that provides micro loans, or grants that provide a coffee drying system for a community, or aid that is used by governments to provide infrastructure like roads or ports so that goods can move freely. At the end of the day, even USA research laboratories, hospitals or schools receive aid/grants. But it is good aid; Living aid and not dead aid. Something I am calling TrAid.

This week, Forbes released sections of a critical report that laid to bare the opportunity that exists in smallholder agriculture – a $450 billion opportunity. We had seen many reports, articles and op eds, soundbites and cases made for smallholder farmers. One of the most recognized proponents has been money guy Bill Gates and his Gates Foundation. But never before had we seen a thorough report that systematically through research, presented the case as this Dalberg Smallholder Agricultural Report here.

At Hiinga, in a quest to differentiate ourselves from existing and more-or-less traditional practices, we have termed social finance for smallholder farmers as Agri-Finance; that is, a micro-loan that is specific to micro-farmers. For us, the report does not just affirm what we do, but it is a trumpet call to everyone to stop looking at smallholder ag as being too risky, unprofitable and unsustainable. As a matter of fact, I believe that big ag in unsustainable in most parts of Africa as a means of food security. In September, the Guardian released an article showing how big buyers/markets such as Walmart are teaming with smallholder groups to provide market outlets. The winner in such an arrangement is not only the poor, but Walmart and its customers who need quality organic products.

The Dalberg Report suggested “five primary growth pathways” in-order to catalyze smallholder finance. I wanted to go through each one of them to show you how Hiinga measures up.

1. That “short-term trade finance for producer groups can be replicated and scaled, while encouraging commercial banks to follow.” We are beginning to scale and replicate our short term trade finance with our farmers. We are creating “bankable” entrepreneurs that commercial bank lenders should find an interest in and be able to take advantage. However, we are also creating new money savers in which I would not be surprised if down the road, a smallholder farmers’ bank would be created and organized into its own entity.

2. That “new products can be innovated, such as providing long-term financing to cooperatives, addressing working capital needs, and developing on-lending schemes to finance group members.” We are still stuck to short term financing, but we do realize that for things such as irrigation systems or even other highly mechanized tools, we would need to provide long term financing. And because we are setting up coops infrastructure, it would get easier to do in the medium to long-term. Our model is thought through to take this direction when we get to the bridge.

3. That “financing schemes can be deployed through multinational buyers who have tightly integrated out-grower schemes…” this is the same thing as shared in the article from the Guardian above. Multinationals provide steady markets and have the capital investment to do. We are not dealing with any multi-national buyers but are very interested. We have a plan for juice processing which would have to include  a “tightly integrated out-grower scheme.”

4. That “providing finance through alternate points of aggregation in the value chain (such as warehouses or input suppliers)…”Hiinga does this already. Some of the products we deal with are complex in terms of storage or transportation that we have to provide that service. Moreover, most smallholder farmers are not able to afford inputs which we are able to finance directly.

5. That “for farmers that are in very loose and dispersed value chains, direct to farmer financing models can be piloted, such as augmenting microfinance with new technology platforms.” We are working on this. We are looking to provide new drip irrigation technology from Israel and India through our agri-financing model to the farmers.

I had an opportunity to speak on the phone with Daz Zook, one of the authors of the report. He did mention that one of the things he observed was that he did not see any organization that was combining finance, technical assistance, marketing, etc. For example, one organization would be doing financing, while another will offer technical expertise. He was able to quickly realize that Hiinga creates the whole village economy and market eco system that includes organizing, equipping, financing, and marketing. We are also the only “grassroots” organization that is innovating an aspect of sustainable healthcare that is deeply interwoven within the DNA or our model.

It was a very exciting day yesterday when I visited one of our buyers with samples of the crop from our East African smallholder farmers.  I wanted to know whether their crop was ready for harvest and sale, so he looked at them and he exclaimed; “Wow! This is the kind of harvest we are looking for.” We went on to talk about a few other things but I couldn’t wait to share the news with the farmers that some of their crops are now ready for harvest.  All the months of their hard work was now going to pay off. From the days of doubts and lots of questions on whether this would work and how it would work for them; to the faith and action needed when we laid the seed beds and took meticulous care of them till they matured; to the transplanting and caring for the gardens, it hasn’t been a typical smooth road. But we knew from the start that stopping poverty and hunger in Africa would take a lot of work which we were willing to do, willing to take that risk, willing to fail.

The farmers’ work-load got even heavier when the they began to weed their farms and to take extra care after their gardens. The crops grew day by day and soon enough they began to flower and now, finally, the initial harvest is ready. What an exciting period! Our smart farming model requires them to grow food crops along cash crops ensuring a steady supply of food and income to be able take care of their families. All we simply did was give them hope, equip them with tools and skills, and now we will watch as their personal economies grow. And that is what we do at Hiinga; we fight Hunger and Poverty among the majority rural and smallholder farmers in East Africa. This is not the only way of fighting hunger and poverty, but this is the only way that the majority of our people understand. We thank all our farmers for their diligence, their supervisors, and our partners who have provided the funding we needed to take this risk.

We are very pleased to announce our latest partnership with GAIN USA (Global Aid Network) to boost food security and end hunger in East Africa. GAIN USA will be supplying our farmers with the much needed organic seeds. Our CEO, Andy Kristian Agaba met with Steve Watson, the Director of Logistics & Development for GAIN USA who agreed in principle to begin making arrangements for shipment to East Africa. Mr. Joe Liller, a director of the at GAIN warehouse in Lancaster, Pennsylvania facilitated this meeting.

We have now received some sample seed packages that have been shipped to farmers in Tanzania. Shipping the big containers will require logistical handling and shipping fees. Let’s be honest, I would prefer that we would be buying the seeds within the region. Unfortunately, for now, this will not be the case for now. We are receiving some great organic seeds that are neither GMO nor hybrid. And we will take them. Now we need your help to ship them. Chip in some money so we can have them to the farmers in time for the next february 2013 planting season. Together, we can empower millions out of poverty and hunger.

As expected, technological adoption and social media have had fair it share of discussion by panelists and speakers. Ambassador Susan Rice revealed how she has become a converted preacher after having been a sceptic. She is now an avid twitter user and uses the platform to engage the global audience, start conversations and even communicate some key USA Security Council positions.

From politics to human trafficking, and from education and to healthcare, new media and cutting-edge technologies are being created to resolve global challenges. But more than 6 billion of the world’s population remain a unconnected to broadband or the internet, and for those in developing countries who are connected, prices remain very high. The lack of connectivity is something that is an area of concern to Ericsson and partners. There’s wide recognition that technology can be leveraged to tackle many global issues including climate change early warning, food security, malaria and numerous other problems. In fact, when one of the speakers asked the audience how many believed access to the Internet was a human right, not one hand remained un-raised.

There are so many great things to say about the Social Good Summit. For one, it provides many of us who can’t yet get the invitation to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI 2012) an alternative for meeting other people that are very passionate about social good. We get the opportunity to hear about other work that we may not have been familiar with such as the Google Earth mapping technology that is being applied in Afghanistan detect land-mines and there by save lives, or the diaspora engagement the the reaspora and the Villages in Action, a  TEDx like platform at village grassroots that stimulates and nurtures civic engagement.

Overall, I have been pleased with the agenda of the summit. However, I would have thought that it would be in the best interest of the summit that this platform should be more available to the communities and populations that are constituents of the problems we are trying to solve. In clearer terms, its necessary that we have a shared stage on which solutions that are emanating from the grassroots are prominent. There wasn’t a good attempt at doing that, as almost 90% of the speakers were western, when more than 90% of the problems we are trying to address are non-western. If we can narrow this divide, I would have no other suggestion.

Many of us Africans (I can’t speak for other regions) are actively engaged in creating home grown models that are creating sustainable communities and changing lives. Most of these remain as “lamps placed under the bed” with fewer people (outside world) able to see the light. Opportunities to share these processes on highly respected stages like the Social Good Summit one are not only vital in making critical linkages and mobilizing resources for scaling these approaches, but also very necessary to champion Africa by Africans solutions while creating inspiration to millions of hopeful young Africans.

I do look forward to #SGSGlobal2013. On a networking side of things, it has been well worth it!

I couldn’t resist to post a a photo of me and Mr. Forest Whitaker, Academy Award Winner (Best Actor). Mr. Whitaker is one of the most humble celebrities you will ever meet. You can tell that from his genuine smile. His is so gracious, so gentle, and so genuine. A peer into his eyes, and you can almost read into his soul. I am so honored!

Together, they have four children, 3 girls (Prossy, Peace and Patience) and one boy (Pius). Between them (Emmanuel and Jane), their total annual income is approximately $400 a year, which is about $1 and 10 cents a day. Our goal is to empower them double or even triple this income within one year.

A portrait of Emmanuel, Jane and their children before heading to school in the morning. Hiinga is actively working to empower them to realize their dreams, buy providing start up funds, skills and knowledge to become successful Agricultural Entrepreneurs.

When they start earning a little bit of more money, here is what they have told us they are dreaming to do:
1. They would like to start their own viable business. They are thoughts are on setting up a village whole sale distribution shop.
2. Emmanuel says eventually, he would like to own a filling station (to sell gas/petrol) so that the business can take care of his children whenever he dies.
3. Even though their children benefit from free education from the government (Universal Primary Education), it is not good enough. If they had more money, they would like to have their children going to good schools so they can get competitive.
4. They would like to build a better home.
5. They would like to buy the plot of land where they currently live. Even though they till it and live on it, they do not own it.

Portrait of Hope: We couldn’t resist sharing this portrait of Jane beaming with hope and looking so dignified. We are excited to be part of her journey out of poverty, by empowering her family to meet their needs, both physical and spiritual.

Hiinga has brought hope to this family. Now, some of these dreams are really achievable in the short term, and they can all be attained in the long term. With opportunity, hard-work, dedication and your support, we can bring real change, impact and dignity to millions of households like Emmanuel & Jane’s. Please DONATE today! Visit the page at the link to make your secure donation. And if you are in Uganda or Kenya or Tanzania or anywhere else in Africa, we also need your donation. Reach out to us and we will give you a Mobile Money Number to do this.

Remember, that for every agricultural entrepreneur we are creating in Africa, they will not only pay back that initial investment, but they will also invest in a brand new entrepreneur. Therefore, in 7 years, your single investment in one farmer could potentially impact approximately 20 farmers!!!! What’s more exciting than that?

Photography by Onyait-Odeke.

1. African Farmers Are The Majority
Approximately 80 percent of the people in SubSaharan Africa live off the land. They are subsistence farmers, which means they plant and eat most of what they plant, and sell just a little surplus for whatever price. Subsistence farming, for so long a tradition, does not do much. Literally, it fulfills the saying “living hand to mouth.”

2. Investing In Farmers Builds The Economy
If farmers are 80% of the population, it means that even if the remaining 20% are wealthy, they have to shoulder the economic and taxation burden for the 80%. And that can hamper development. By empowering small farmers to participate in the economy, educate their children, have some money to spend and pay taxes, provide for the children’s healthcare, we are making independent citizens whose country is dependent on them.

3. It Is Cheap To Invest In Agriculture In Africa
Cheap is usually not a positive word. But the truth of the matter is that it is cheaper to invest in farming than investing in any other thing to get the people out of poverty. They own land, labor, and some tools. We only need to boost existing resources with better methods and information. We do not need to re-invent the wheel, we just need to make the wheel more efficient and more effective.

4. Investing In Agriculture Ends Hunger
This is a common sense reason, but most times common sense is not common to all of us. Africa has 60% of the world’s arable land, and yet still has the world’s hungriest, poorest and most malnourished people and children. Yields have declined consistently and significantly. We can reverse the trend by investing in people to produce more that can be brought to the places where there is dire need.

5. The Market Exists For African Agricultural Products
Our African farmers always complain about the lack of markets for their products. They are absolutely correct, because the village farmer has no other way of selling their product unless the market comes to them. Unfortunately, in the world of trade, it is the responsibility of the seller to go out and seek the market, both from within and from without. Yet, those with access to such markets have only cared for themselves. We are changing that. We are sourcing good markets for African small farmers, within borders and beyond.

We are very pleased to introduce you to Onyait-Odeke, Hiinga’s first team member in East Africa. His name means bountiful harvest, and we couldn’t ignore that. Hiinga needs bountiful harvests for our farmers! Onyait attended college at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, Uganda, where he attained a four year Bachelor of Laws degree. He is also training to become a professional marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

But that’s not what’s most exciting about Onyait-Odeke. What makes us fortunate to serve with him is his burning hunger to be a powerful tool of social change within village communities in Uganda and beyond. He is incredibly passionate about empowering people to fulfill their God-given potentials and alleviate poverty. He is a mentor of peers and younger people at his alma mater, a fierce debater and excellent speaker.

He brings to Hiinga unparallelled enthusiasm and power-horse energy and fits perfectly into the Hiinga culture. As our Program Coordinator, Onyait-Odeke is juggling so many duties at once and prepping our smooth transition to village communities, ensuring compliance to ethics and values, and driving the principles of social enterprise while encouraging village Social Innovation. We are so blessed to serve with this young man, truly a next generation leader of Africa.

Need we dare forget to mention that he is an emerging photography talent who is keen on taking on the world as one of Africa’s best. If you keep visiting, you will always find his images on this website and blog. Say hello to Onyait-Odeke in our comment box below.