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ISU and Monsanto Fund team up to help Ugandan farmers

Iowa State University and Monsanto Fund have teamed up to provide livestock—and hope—to subsistence farmers in Uganda.

The two-year project, which ispart of ISU’s Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, will provide pigs and goats to 100 Ugandan farmers. ISU animal scientist Max Rothschild says people who have livestock are more likely to raise their standard of living. He says the first step—already underway—is for the farmers to buildstructures to house the animals. The program also provides some feed, as well as seed needed to grow additional feed. Seed is being distributed now to take advantage of the first rainy season of the year in Uganda.

The Monsanto Fund provided 100-thousand dollars for theproject. ISU is partnering with Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns, a non-governmental organization, to oversee the project.