Saturday, March 16, 2019

EDWIN FOUNDATION SETS TARGET FOR MASSIVE TEA GROWING IN NORTHERN UGANDA





With effect from April 2020, northern Uganda will be able to kick-start large scale tea growing, according Edwin Atukunda Bekunda, the founder of Edwin Foundation for Tea Initiative - EFOTI. Briefing our media team this week after meeting with district officials of Gulu at the Edwin Foundation Tea Initiative tea growing centre in Lugore, Mr. Atukunda made it clear that the foundation has hundreds of thousands of tea seedlings which were planted between December 2018 and February 2019 which will be ready for transplanting by February 2020. However, since the dry spell stretches from November to almost April, we shall have to wait for the first April rains in order to start planting the ready tea seedlings which by that time will have grown strong and become resistant to heat and dry soil.


We work as a team: Mr. Edwin Atukunda with his team of tea seedlings attendants



Mr. Atukunda further reiterated the need for the people of northern Uganda to utilize the plentiful wealth of cultivable land at their disposal instead of selling them for short term gains and swimming in abject poverty, let alone living like destitute and squatters in their own land. He particularly called upon the youth of northern Uganda to unite under an association for tea growing if they seriously wish to eradicate the rampant poverty, excessive drinking and idle talk among them. This, he said, will open for them various avenues of funding from the government and other agricultural organizations, hence paving way for their individual and collective development.


The joy of success: Edwin Atukunda smiles during a routine check on his tea seedlings bed in Lugore, northern Uganda


Drawing from his own life example, the founder of EFOTI advised the youth to strive to set their own trends and legacies rather than waiting to enjoy their parents’ or grandparents’ little wealth; this, he said will save them blames from their own children in the future. “Since the age of ten, I have seen numerous wars and grown in poverty but now I am a different person. I have travelled to many countries around the world because of tea. Tea has made me what I am now....If I am mad, it is for tea”, said Atukunda.

Edwin Atukunda covering his tea seedlings



Edwin Foundation for Tea Initiatives is a private organization founded by Mr. Edwin Atukunda Bekunda with the interest of championing the cause of tea growing in Uganda. His first success came when he initiated tea growing in Kamwenge district. Currently, Mr. Edwin is working on the largest tea seedlings bed in the entire northern and north eastern region, with a tea planting training centre based in Lugore, Gulu district. 

Friday, December 21, 2018

The work so far done...


What began over a couple of years ago as a small initiative has now grown into a nationwide project... EFOTI is gradually maturing into a bigger and more appreciated project driver for tea and fruit growing initiative in Uganda. The journey, which began in Kamwenge, has finally crossed the equator through to the north and still spreading to the other regions of the East and South.

Tirelessly, the founder of EFOTI, Mr. Edwin Ankunda, traverses the northern region, preaching and doing tea planting among the people the region. Having done a preliminary survey on the viability of tea growing in the north, Edwin has embarked on a confident mission of ensuring that every district in the north gets tea seedlings, courtesy of EFOTI. 











Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The Edwin Foundation making news across the country

When passion drives you, nothing can stop you. In the pursuit of our aspirations and dreams – obstacles are just but stepping stones. This is a case with one of the ambitious and passion driven men – Edwin Atukunda Beekunda, a renowned farmer and entrepreneur....To read more, please, visit: The Edwin Foundation on The Northern News Daily



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The year was 2016.....Edwin hit the news after a very tireless struggle
to initiate tea growing in Kamwenge District.

Edwin Bekunda Atukunda, founder of Edwin Foundation Tea Initiative (EFOTI), is on to something in the tea industry in Kamwenge District after he carried out a research and later set up a tea technology training centre, the first of its kind in Uganda.......To read more, please, follow this link: Against all odds, he introduced tea growing in kamwenge


EDWIN FOUNDATION SETS TARGET FOR MASSIVE TEA GROWING IN NORTHERN UGANDA

With effect from April 2020, northern Uganda will be able to kick-start large scale tea growing, according Edwin Atukunda Bekunda, ...