Three years ago, Olivia Asinde and her husband Robert Loda lost their entire bean crop during a dismal growing season. They had to survive off the profits of their sugarcane, which takes two years to mature and occupies valuable land, displacing crops used for food.
They have about 17 acres (6.8 hectares) in Kabuki village in the Mayuge District of eastern Uganda. They had to buy beans to eat instead.
But this year, the couple, who have two children they send to school with profits from agriculture, are more hopeful for a successful crop. Despite stubbornly dry skies in the crucial spring months, their bean crop is thriving and will be ready for harvest soon.
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About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
