Maize surplus helps family to pay school fees

CHARLES NETO, who farms in Ngambana village, has seen the positive changes over the past four seasons.

Thanks to a new, improved maize variety, the farm’s yield has increased significantly from between five and ten bags of maize per season to over 25. It is just one of a number of improved crop varieties being tried out by the Ilonga Research Centre in Mororo region. Charles Neto explained in an Irish Aid website case history how improved yields have helped his family of eight children.

His family consumes about 15 bags of maize per year. Since they have been getting the higher yields, they have been selling a surplus of 10 to 15 bags. “The extra income has helped to cover household costs, medical costs and secondary school fees for my two eldest children.”