Supporting village children into school in Benin

After a gap of more than 2 years when I have been unable to visit Benin, I am hoping to get there later this year. Communication via the internet is somewhat spotty but we somehow manage.

Dieu Donne decided that the orphanage needed a repaint and the work has just started; plenty of bright colours.

The invasion of Ukraine looks set to cause many problems especially for Africa. Benin is fortunate in that the southern region has abundant rainfall for at least one and sometimes two crops a year. However the transition from subsistence farming to producing consistent surpluses is neither easy nor fast. This process is further complicated by the huge recent increase in the cost of fertilizer. This further complicates the process, as many of the local soils have been seriously impoverished, especially of potash.

Edible oils is one of the areas where Ukraine production was very important on world markets. Dieu Donne has already decided to increase the area planted with peanuts. Both peanut and palm oil are grown at Chez Papa Geoff. Peanuts are useful as they fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil which is then better able to support maize. In fact these two crops are often grown together.

Their tractors are now 60-70 years old and are still functioning in the harsh local conditions. This says a lot for both the ability of Dieu Donne as a mechanic and the simple robust design of the Fordson Majors which HATW shipped from Britain 7 years ago. We have to source spares from GB but at least they are plentiful and cheap. Shipping costs, however, have sky rocketed recently. Overall, things are looking hopeful for the project, in spite of the turmoil in Europe.