By KT Reporter
In Kamokya, Alvin Bossa is watering vertical gardens where he grows green leafy vegetables at the backyard of his father’s house.
The twelve-year boy is preparing to go back to school for the second term school calendar. His school fees and pocket money is already sorted he says. Thanks to the constant flow of customers seeking to buy different types vegetable and spices.
Uganda Radio Network bumped into Bossa accidentally. Dressed in blue sportswear, he was running from the football pitch just at the right moment when to water the crops. He climbs the ladder with a green watering can to reach the vegetables hanging above his height.
He is specific on where in the pots he should pour the water. Passersby call him musomesa (teacher) because some farmers come here to learn one or two skills about farming. Bossa is eager to reach more Ugandans with this skill. He especially wants to reach the urban poor who make up almost half of the capital’s population.
In a country where less of young people are engaging in farming, where school gardens are varnishing, Bossa is determined to prove wrong that tend to believe that farming is for the elderly.
“You cannot do something when you don’t have interest but for us we have. For us we got a company that gives money and we construct gardens like the one you are seeing behind me. That is where I get my school fees from” he said.
“But what you have t consider is land and capital. But because we in are in an urban area, we chose to utilize that small space provided by my father. With capital, Plan gave use seeds and seed money to start off” he added.
He says that with determination and proper management of such gardens, one can supplement his/her incomes.
“There is money in farming. Because here, in the morning I can get about five thousand shillings from the tea spices only” he said.
Bossa’s potted plants are arranged in raising steps so that water being sprinkled to the plans placed above can drop on the plants placed below. Ensuring wastage of the water is in this urban setting.
He is part of the Eco youth group supported by Plan International. The organization helps them to set up green gardens. The plants are grown in plastic bottles that are normally discarded at waste bins-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
