Malnorishment and hunger banished for all
Not only has it led to diseased children and adults hence increasing the already high mortality rate but also low levels of productivity. The women are mostly responsible for feeding the family and with also increasing birthrates, it is hard to feed many people on a small piece of land. We aim to teach the residents sustainable africulture. eg permaculture, offer seeds / seedlings of high value crops like watermelons, tomatoes,oranges,form a joint marketing structure so as all produce can be bought in bulk hence farmers dont lose much. Also encourage kitchen gardens to feed the family. ideologies that one should have many acres of land to carry out comercial agriculture are to be challenged as we show them how alot can be done on two acres of our demonstration farm. we are considering hydroponics for tomatoes, any advice on how a low cost system can be constructed is welcome. Also poultry and fruit farming. A Piggery is very profitable but we can not have it on the site as the majority of residents are moslems. Any ideas....we wait for all your assistance.
Hi Susanne,
Could you first start with the Kitchen gardens for growing simple vegetables. The gardens should be small enough to enable the beneficiary households learn and appreciate the value of these in improving their nutrition and food security. A sample of 15-20 households will be great.
Regards,
Denis Marsha
You have quite a lot of work cut out for you!! Do you live in/near the village and can you set up a proper example farm??? a small 2 meter by 3 meter? I am going to attach some info from another village that spells it all out - and perhaps you/or you can chose someone to set it up. Do you have casaba seeds, maize, tomato and whatever else - oh! some greens, green beans - I don't know what you call your lettuce - but do you need money to buy seeds for this? - and I think a garden hoe and gloves and buckets for water, and a watering can. Maybe find out the price of a wheelbarrow. let me know the cost and we will set up a 'demonstration home garden'.
2 hoes 6
2 panga 4
1 axe 3
1 rakes 5
2 water cans 15
1 wheel barrow 38
1 spade 3
about $75 plus seeds($25) - and this equipment can be shared
And Malcolm's breakdown for how to set up the garden.
Best wishes, Ginger
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Ginger :)