Train Primary Teachers in Conservation Agriculture

This quarter saw us continue our delivery of the school’s project with the key step of installing a drip irrigation system. Students and teachers we’re excited to see the equipment arrive and with the help of staff and irrigation technicians it was installed on site. Students then got to see how it worked and the instant results visible as little pools of wet soil became visible all along the planting beds.

Discussion was held with those who had previously received training to ensure that theory is put into practice around mulching, crop management, tillage and of course irrigation. With the seasonal rains now on their way preparation is underway to ensure that the land is ready so that crop yields can be maximised and vulnerable students can be fed. Materials are now being purchased for the establishment of a layer chicken house. Utilising by-products from the farming activities to supplement the chicken’s diet this will provide a cost effective supply of eggs going forwards. With an open day on the horizon to show prove our methods to the community, things are shaping up nicely.

Thanks again to all our donors for your wonderful support – the more you give the more we can do.

Ahead of implementing the vegetable crop areas and chicken layer project, coming out of Covid has meant we’ve been able to deliver a school support visit. Meeting with staff, the focus was on information and making up for some of the lost effort when crops were untended. Once the schools could reopen, the headmaster and the teachers at the school managed to weed some of the plots and harvested two cow-pea demonstration plots and two maize plots together with the pupils.

The trainers encouraged the school delegation to apply all the Conservation Agriculture principles the initial group of staff members had been taught, to achieve much more desirable results in their fields.

The school has enough land and a reliable source of water to venture into profitable farming activities.

The trainers advised the school delegates to practicing post-harvest weeding to reduce weed pressure the following season. The teachers were also advised again to gather as much mulch as they can to cover their plots.

It’s all stations go now and we’re excited for the next phase as we look to make this project more sustainable and get the community involved for that all important ripple effect.

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