KAMPALA (Kyodo) At an elementary school in a small Ugandan village that has no running water or electricity, Eri Iwayama waits for rain.

Early last year, Iwayama, a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, planted upland New Rice for Africa, known as NERICA, in the school garden and harvested as much as 86 kg three months later.

"There is no money to buy food and I'm unable to prepare satisfactory lunches," said Iwayama, 28, a native of Chitose, Hokkaido, who is actually engaged in educating the disabled.