For the Batwa, agriculture is not part of tradition. Living in the forest they operated as hunters and gatherers, relying on a completely different skillset in daily life. Now, living in Bakiga land they farm as Bakiga do. Some Batwa farm their own plots of land and others "dig" on large Bakiga farms in return for lunch or modest pay. Most do both.
Acceptance of a farming life has been mixed. Some say they take pride in growing their food, others prefer working for money. Most don't complain and simply do what they must to feed their family. Farming is hard work, only becoming more difficult as droughts increase in frequency and unpredictability.
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From the Farm
Many types of food are grown on the slopes of hills and large flat valleys of south-western Uganda. Maize, casava, beans, potatoes, pumpkins, and peanuts (groundnuts) are all staples of local diets. Dipuri and Kwanda are local species of plantains which support people year round, and, when plenty, are fermented into an alcoholic beverage.
In addition to these staples, many aid groups have contributed crops and education to help improve nutrition within Batwa settlements. Others have donated livestock in the hopes of providing sustained protein. Animal ownership like pictured below is sporadic and dependent on a donor given their high cost. This can help families in need, but can also stir up jealousies within a community.
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In their transition to agriculture, as in many other cultures, women have taken the weight of every day farm upkeep. Men contribute often, but it is the women who work daily to secure food. Weeding, sowing, tilling, harvesting, all are part of the effort to grow food. Learning from the Bakiga, these are now normal elements in Batwa life. Even now as these skills are accumulating, climatic changes are interrupting healthy harvests. Heavy rains beat down on plants, breaking tender leaves and drowning roots. More often than ever, episodes of intense rain are followed by equally intense droughts that starve crops of their lifeblood.
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Farming is now a part of life for the Batwa. It lacks connection to their cultural roots, but slowly it is becoming natural as hunting game and gathering honey. In certain places, people are able to still grow some plants from the forest in their gardens, preserving connection to past practices. Growing food is one way that Batwa have adapted to their new circumstance, but many have chosen to try and earn money and live as so many people now do in the world, part of the cash economy.