Monica juggles two demanding roles: sunflower farmer and seamstress with the grace and determination of someone committed to transforming her family’s life. Born in Bukoli and now living in Kasota, Monica is married with 8 children, a family she supports through a combination of farming and tailoring.
Her days follow a strict rhythm: mornings in the fields, tending to her sunflower crops, and evenings at her sewing machine, bringing fabrics to life. She first joined the Sunflower and Rice Farmers Union in 2018, inspired after tasting sunflower oil from fellow farmers and seeing the potential it held.
Before farming sunflowers, Monica owned just one sewing machine. The profits from her crops allowed her to buy a second one, both of which she operates herself. When customer orders overflow, one machine stays at home to handle the extra workload.
Monica recalls a time when her tailoring business alone couldn’t meet her family’s needs. Farming changed that. “Before, I had a very low income,” she says, “but sunflower farming brought me profit.” However, she admits that a lack of manpower sometimes limits her ability to fully utilize her larger farms.
Looking ahead, Monica dreams of opening a small office in Kasota to sell sunflower oil both her own and that of other farmers in the union. For her, it’s not just about business, but about creating a marketplace that supports the whole farming community.