By Obed Twinomujuni
Mgahinga Community Conservation Development Association (MCCDA) has distributed onion seedlings to its members valued at 24 Million Shillings.
MCCDA, a Community Based Organization with the aim of conserving the environment and fostering development in Villages adjacent to Mountain Muhabura and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has over 1069 members.
The Association’s chairperson Christopher Nambajimana says onion growing is one of the ways of encouraging non- palatable foods that can discourage wild animals from the National Park from visiting communities and destroying gardens.
In the bid to address, Human Wildlife Conflict around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) has made significant donations since December 2021 to individuals and the association to enable them to invest in onion farming.
Onions are considered non-palatable crops and have the potential to fetch high yields for the park edge farmers while contributing to a reduction in Human Wildlife Conflict around the park.
Nambajimana, however urged farmers to strongly consider growing food crops like maize to avoid hunger in the homes, like was experienced in 2022 when most households rushed into onion growing for commercial purposes.
Local chairpersons from the parishes of Gitenderi and Rukongi in Nyarusiza Sub County and Gisozi Parish in Muramba commended the MCCDA for its efforts towards fighting Human Wildlife Conflict.
Nsenga James of Rukongi said the onions will be planted and the harvest will be shared with other households on a revolving basis so that other members can benefit.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) data indicates that the most common animals that suffer as a result of Human Wildlife Conflict include buffaloes, duikers, and chimpanzees among others.
Efforts to strengthen and rehabilitate the 12.7 Km Buffalo stonewall at Mgahinga and planting Erythrina has greatly reduced such occurrences.
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