It’s been a while since I updated everyone on how UMPG is doing. If you are new to this blog, see this post on what UMPG is. Basically, it’s my attempt to connect local farmers with international markets through value-added exports. More importantly, I really started UMPG as a concrete example of how much development can be achieved by members of the Diaspora investing in their communities beyond simply sending remittances to their families.
The first crop we’ve been trying to commercialize in large scale has been moringa oleifera. The moringa tree produces a very highly desirable leaf powder and the seeds can be harvested for their oil. After almost 5 years trying to make this project work, it is exciting to see these pictures. 2014 is going to be a great year. I’ll have more in-depth updates over the next few months, but for now, here’s a quick recap of what we’ve achieved in the last 3 months. For streaming updates like this one, make sure to follow UMPG on Twitter:
2mos ago, we started build a production facility in village of Kikuube, in Masindi district to process moringa powder pic.twitter.com/qfmvbtaT88
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
The facility is the first value-added processing facility located right in the community of just over 1200 people pic.twitter.com/1dpjN7sBg9
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
Building of the facility provided 15 contract jobs & will employ mostly female workforce that will number 12 at peak pic.twitter.com/3oiFHUhveF
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
All materials for facility were sourced & bought locally within community or in Masindi town = $ in local economy pic.twitter.com/MWTupLjsq6
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
Facility garnering interest from future customers who’ve come from as far as China to estimate potential capacity pic.twitter.com/QtX79s2mYc
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
Foundation 2 completion, builders took only 6 wks to complete facility, a record. Most houses take yrs to b completed pic.twitter.com/hhcAiNCLsi
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
These women, hired for their first job ever, will be harvesting & preparing #moringa leaves to process into powder pic.twitter.com/AWRybaJ9UJ
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
Kikuube is not connected to national grid, a fuel efficient diesel engine powers the processor by fulltime engineer pic.twitter.com/fQrY6Xscg7
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
With installation & testing now complete, machine will be able to produce 1 ton of high quality moringa powder/day pic.twitter.com/0JM4uf8zhv
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
In order to reach capacity, we need to engage 50-75 farmers in community as moringa farmers, increasing their incomes pic.twitter.com/ofXQRSmneP
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
We r dedicating portion of profits earned by facility to invest in local primary school. An educated community wins. pic.twitter.com/krhekQ3mIF
— Raintree Farms (@RT_farms) January 9, 2014
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