Q: How did the IWMF Reporting on Agriculture project help you find and report on your story about women pig farmers?
JM: Before I attended the IWMF Reporting on Agriculture training, I did not appreciate the role of women in the farming sector. But after learning more about gender in the course of the training, I noticed that, in fact, women participate and contribute more towards the country’s agriculture sector then men. So I grew more interested in reporting on women farmers... . Moreover, before I went to cover that story, I discussed it with fellow classmates who advised me I could not miss out on the story.
Q: How did you find out about women pig farmers?
JM: I attended a women’s trade show in the Mpigi District. And as I was touring the show, I met Molly Mukasa exhibiting local pigs and matooke (bananas). She was taken with dynamism and full of hope.
Ms. Mukasa narrated to me how she left a life of misery and is now more optimistic. I found her success story interesting and good to be shared with other women. In Uganda, about 80 percent of women are depending directly or indirectly on agriculture. But unfortunately, many earn less than what they project because they use poor methods of farming. She gave me her contacts and four days later, I visited her home in Buwama to see how she was managing her pigs. She gave me more information, and I also talked to some of her neighbors.
As she narrated, she spoke of Ms IIse Schummer, coordinator of Friends of Uganda Germany and Voluntary Action for Development (VAD). …Ms. Schummer was in the country. I made an appointment to meet her so that she [could] give me her story.
Q: Did you already know Ms. Mukasa or Ms. Schummer?
JM: No. That was my first time to meet both ladies.
Q: Did you learn about pigs from Ms. Mukasa, or did you conduct further research?
JM: Initially, I had no knowledge about pigs, but when Ms. Mukasa gave me her account, I was forced to do more research on them so that I could write on something I understood more.
Q: What challenges did you face when reporting or writing the article?
JM: Initially, some technical words were new in my ears, so I faced a challenge of understanding them. It also took me longer to gather information because I don’t write only agriculture stories.
Q: Since the article was published, have you met other women who have benefited from Voluntary Action for Development?
JM: I tried but I was limited by resources. VAD operates in two districts, and its beneficiaries are scattered in those districts.
Q: Do you plan to follow up on this story?
JM: Yes, but after some months.