Our garden plot is next to a dry river bed where water flows for a short time each year, but is accessible only a few feet from the surface. Agriculture is becoming a profitable venture for the Air region.
We had time for one more visit to our garden to see the new plantings and get some advice from an expert from ICRISAT International Crops Research for the Semi Arid Tropics, who gave us some good ideas.
We are planning to send a group of around 10 gardeners for a training session there in Niamey next fall.
The garden is coming along well with a traditional watering system, but we want to try some new and old things like drip irrigation and or permaculture.
We will bring some cows in to provide good fertilizer and are looking forward to our first big harvest in November. The garden site is important for many reasons. It will provide income for the foundation and it will be a demonstration site for gardening techniques, and for use of solar pumps and panels for irrigation. Once we have trained gardeners, it can also be a training center for others. We are hoping the crop will finance the educational program next fall.
Here is what we have done so far.
Land prepared for onions, the money maker here…
Onions headed for harvest in March.
Fennel, popular in sauces…
Cabbage inter-planted with Moringa to provide vitamins to a vitamin poor diet.
seeking to balance cultural tradition...with economic opportunity
Wonderful! Great Work:) I just volunteered last night at a Global Resource Alliance event at Meditation Mount. They gave a great presentation, they are doing a lot of work in Tanzania. I imagine you have met them, but if you haven't they would be a great group for you to connect with and perhaps get some ideas for your garden and what not:D