AN EAST?Meon food expert joined a team which undertook a gruelling trek across an extinct volcano to raise funds for the international charity Farm Africa.
Julian Marks, who is managing director at Barfoots of Botley, with 12 other leading food industry figures hiked up and across Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano which straddles the Uganda-Kenya border, in a bid to raise £100,000 for Farm Africa.
The charity helps East African farmers earn more from their agricultural efforts through improved production, post-harvest handling and marketing of vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
The team flew to Africa on Friday, January 26, to start their trek and fact-finding mission.
On arrival, the group travelled to Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda to visit Farm Africa’s Sweet Potatoes for Prosperity project.
The food industry experts met farmers working with Farm Africa, and then started on the seven-day hike up Mount Elgon.
The 100km route, which had never been walked before, took them through thick forest, into deep gorges and up the mountain’s four peaks and into Kenya.
The mentally and physically challenging trek saw the team sleeping in tents, carrying heavy bags and walking at high altitudes.
To wrap up their trip, the team visited Farm Africa’s Growing Futures project.
The visit enabled Julian to meet some of the young farmers who are being given support to develop profitable horticulture businesses, and see the difference it is making to them.
Farm Africa’s Director of External Relations Stefanie Pfeil added: “We’re thrilled to have the dedicated support of the UK food industry for Farm Africa’s work bringing long-lasting change for farmers in eastern Africa.
“I extend our heartfelt thanks to them for taking on such a gruelling challenge to raise funds to help smallholder farmers grow more, and sell for more, while protecting the environment for generations to come.”
The group can be sponsored through the website at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/MountElgonChallenge