Green Global
Foundation Journal
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INFLUENCE OF WEKEMBE MIXED GROUP CREDIT SCHEMES ON SMALL TO MEDIUM SCALE FARMERS IN BUKOLWA, LUWEERO DISTRICT, UGANDA (Pages : 13 - 18)
M. H. RAHMAN, K. CALATHARAN, T. LUND, I. TVEITEN AND M. BLOOMQUISTThis fieldwork was carried out in the Bukolwa village in the district of Luweero, Uganda to assess the functionality of the Wekembe mixed group credit scheme and how it affected individual and group activities within the context of livelihoods and food security. Data were through combination of different methods including informal conversations with villagers and people working with the non governmental organization (NGO), VEDCO, participatory resource mapping with the members of the Wekembe mixed group, and structured and semi-structured interviews of thirty randomly selected member households. This study reveals that the Wekembe mixed group formed in order to receive loans from a microfinance institution run by the Catholic Church. It offered the same terms and conditions to all of its loan-takers, and utilized a progressive credit granting formula. Participation in the credit scheme educated Bukolwa residents on how to manage an organization, how to handle loans and working together in groups and sharing the responsibility for one another’s loans helps to build social capital. The Bukolwa sustainable agriculture group was one outcome of the social capital generated within the Wekembe group. Download