International Human Development and Uplifting Academy

Horticulture

Highlights

Mission: Provide seeds, plants and horticultural training to rural households


Beneficiaries

More than 500 households since 2004

Purpose

IHDUA’s horticulture development program delivers seeds and saplings to village farmers in order to enhance dietary diversity, support the production of commercially valuable crops, and increase long-term groundcover.

Tiny Plants, Big Returns

Every year participating households receive ten varieties of vegetable seeds, which are planted in kitchen gardens managed by each family. The harvest is consumed directly, and any excess vegetables are sold in nearby communities.

Additionally, several types of tree saplings are delivered to families who have adequate farmland to accommodate them. Varieties include palm, teak, neem, pongamia and tamarind, among others. Fruiting trees such as mango can bear up to fifty fruits per harvest after only three years, while teak, prized for its wood, can be harvested after thirty years. Regardless of any economic value provided by a given tree, all of the saplings planted through this program increase shade, enhance soil integrity, and provide a more hospitable environment for local fauna.

Impact

Annual seeds and saplings packages have been delivered to rural families more than 1600 times since 2004.