One of the key highlights of his visit was the commissioning of the Ocea rice seed storage facility in Rhino camp, a refugee settlement located in Arua district. This facility, constructed by JICA, is set to enhance the rice seed supply chain and support self-sustainability for refugees while contributing to food security in the region.
A GAME-CHANGER FOR REFUGEES
The newly commissioned Ocea rice seed storage facility provides refugees with a secure place to store their rice seeds until they are ready for sale. Previously, refugees were forced to store their harvests at home, where the rice often fell victim to rats, leading to significant losses and a decline in quality. With the Ocea facility’s 10-tonne capacity, the harvested rice can now be stored safely for several months, preserving its quality and value.
Joseph Alemin, a 42-year-old South Sudanese refugee living in Rhino camp since 2016, expressed his gratitude for JICA’s intervention.
“Being displaced from my home was difficult, but since JICA introduced the rice-growing program in 2021, life has improved significantly,” Alemin said.
The rice-growing program was initiated by JICA to foster better relations between refugees and the host community, while also helping to alleviate poverty in the settlement. Over 150 refugee households have benefited from the program, planting both indigenous super rice and Nerika rice, a variety from Japan.
BOOSTING LIVELIHOODS
Alemin shared that he has planted 11 acres of rice, with seeds provided by JICA. Last year, he harvested 43 bags of rice from just three acres, each weighing 100 kilograms. Despite facing challenges such as crop damage from cattle and harvesting errors, he earned Shs 9.3 million from his produce.
“I could have earned more if it weren’t for the losses caused by mistakes in harvesting and cattle feeding on the crop before it was fully harvested,” Alemin noted.
The introduction of the Ocea rice seed storage facility and JICA’s ongoing support for agriculture in Rhino camp are transforming lives in the refugee community. With proper storage facilities and increased agricultural knowledge, refugees are now able to secure better harvests, boosting their economic prospects and contributing to the region’s food security.
JICA’s rice-growing support program, initially designed to prevent famine among refugees, has not only improved food security but also transformed refugees into potential contributors to the nation’s food supply. This initiative, which sees 70% refugee participation, has enabled the community to shift from being recipients of aid to producers capable of feeding others.
Elias Ngugi, a protection officer with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Arua, highlighted the significance of JICA’s intervention, noting that food security is a major challenge in most refugee communities.
“With this program, refugees no longer need to worry about famine,” Ngugi said.
Hussein Ariakah, chairman of Faith Farmers, an association that brings together refugees and the host community to cultivate rice, emphasized the project’s potential.
“Last year, we harvested 226 tonnes of rice, and there is still room for more,” he said.
Refugees in villages like Ocea, Yelulu, and Eden were allocated 500 acres of land for rice cultivation, but only 250 acres have been utilized. Rhino camp, with a total of 2,000 acres of wetland suitable for rice farming, has the potential to produce up to 40,000 bags of rice, generating an estimated Shs 9 billion.
Despite the success, there are challenges. Refugee farmers, such as Joseph Alemin, face difficulties due to the manual labor involved in planting and harvesting large fields. Alemin urged JICA to provide tractors to ease the workload. Additionally, the lack of a huller machine forces farmers to store rice with its husks for months, as they incur transport costs to access a machine in Arua town.
Farmers also struggle with market access, as many are new to Rhino camp and unaware of where to sell their produce. Water irrigation equipment is another necessity for year-round rice farming, especially during the dry season when crops perish from drought.
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