TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative:::ProjectRISEReport October2010
DescriptionUsingdry‐seasonfarmingtechniquestomaximizeusageoflandinEkumdipeyear‐round.
ImplementationInstallingtheirrigationsystemsandexecutingourpilotprogram.
NextStepsAssessing,critiquing,andovercomingobstaclestosuccess.
AletterfromtheUndergraduatePresidentandDirectorofRISEDearADIMembersandSupporters,
Firstofall,Iwouldliketothankyouagainfortakingthetimetoreadoursecondmonthlyupdate.Hopefully,youenjoyedthefirstoneandwehopetocontinuetokeeppeoplelikeyouactivelyengagedinourworkthroughtheseupdatesinthefuture.MynameisAdamDemuyakorandIamthePresidentofADI’sundergraduatearm.UndergraduateinvolvementhasalwaysbeennearthecoreofourorganizationandourUndergraduateBoardworkstosupportthelargernon‐profitinstitutionbyfacilitatingastructureinwhichbrightandeagerstudentscandowhattheycantohelptheAfricanDevelopment
Initiativecontinuetogrowandexecuteourprojects.AsIwritetoyoufromHarvardCollege,thisisaspecialtimeforourorganization.Isaythatfortworeasons.First,thisisaspecialtimeforusbecausewehavejustcompletedtheassemblyofourUndergraduateboard.Thisboardisvitalforourundergraduateprocesses,asitwillallowustocentralizestudentactivityforthemonthsandyearstocome.Secondly,thisisanimportanttimeforADIbecauseofourimpendingWinterAfricatrip.ThisDecember5membersofADIwilltraveltoAfricatocontinueworkonourtwomain
projects,ACWAandRISE.Inourlastupdate,weintroducedyoutoprojectACWA.ThisnewsletterwillfeatureProjectRuralIrrigationSystemforEkumdipe,orRISE.AstheprojectleaderofRISE,IamecstaticabouttheprospectofreturningtoGhanatoimplementthenextphasesoftheproject.Atthispoint,thesystemhasbeenproventoworkandthepotentialisashighasevertopositivelyimpactthelivesofthepeopleofEkumdipe.Thanksagainforyourcontinuedsupport.AdamDemuyakorADIUndergraduatePresident
RISERural
IrrigationSystemfor
Ekumdipe
Project
ProjectRISEReport October2010
2
TheissueofpovertyisattheforefrontofdevelopmentinAfrica.InourADISurveys,filledoutbymembersofcommunitieswehaveworkedin,weask,”Whatdopeoplehereneedmost?”Themostcommonansweroverwhelminglyis“Money.Canyougiveusjobs?”Historically,manyorganizationshavetriedtoalleviatepovertyindevelopingregionsbygivingdonationsdirectlytothoseinneed.Thistypeofsolutionisoftenineffective,asitcreatesunnecessarydependencies,andisrarelyself‐sustainable.Insomecases,donationsmadewiththebestofintentionscanruinthelittleeconomicactivityinanareabyunderminingmarketsanddiscouraginginternalentrepreneurship.
ProjectRISEemploysadifferentstrategy.TheADIProjectRuralIrrigationSystemforEkumdipe(RISE)showslocalpeoplehowtoalterfarmingpracticestoincreasetheirincome.Ekumdipeisacommunityofabout1,200peopleinoneofGhana’srural,northernregionsthatexperiencesextremeidlenessduringthedry‐season(whichisapproximatelyfromOctobertoMarch).Farmersearnnothingduringthis6‐monthperiod,whichkeepsthepeopleofEkumdipeinpoverty.
Farmersintheareaproducethevastmajorityoftheircropsduringtherainyseason.TheoutskirtsofEkumdipeareonlyabout1to1.5kilometersawayfromtheDakaRiver,which
flowsthroughouttheyearintotheVoltaRiver/Lake.Seasonalfloodssometimesbringwatertowithin30metersofthecommunity.Asthewaterrecedesaftertherainyseason,fertilesoilsremainforvegetablecultivation.
However,duringdryseason,rainintheareadecreasesdrastically.Landsbecomesodrythatfarmingisfutile.ThefarmersinEkumdipedonotworkduringthisseasonandforegoasubstantialamountofpotentialincome.
InpartnershipwithDr.BawaDemuyakorattheUniversityofDevelopmentStudiesinGhana,ProjectRISEaimstousedry‐seasonfarmingtechniquespracticedinnearbyregionswithsimilarclimatestobeginmaximizingtheusesoflandinEkumdipeyear‐round.OurgoalistoutilizethenearbyDakaRivertocreateathoroughwaterirrigationsystem.Farmersintheareagrowtypicaltropicalsub‐SaharanAfricancropssuchascorn(maize),millet,sorghumandrice,allstaplecerealcrops.Thesearecurrentlygrownonlyseasonallybut,withproperirrigation,canbecultivatedthroughouttheyear.Farmersseasonallygrowtypicalvegetablesaswell,suchastomatoes,okra,assortedbeantypes,peppers,cabbages,carrots,andmanyotherslocalvarieties.Thesevegetablescouldalsobegrownallyearwithadequatewatersupply.
AfterseveralmeetingswiththefarmersinEkumdipeandsurroundingcommunities,welearnedthatfarmersproduceasufficientsupplyofthestaplecerealcrops(corn,millet,sorghum,andrice)tostoreuntilthenextyear’scroparrives.However,thesameisnottrueoftheaforementionedvegetablesandpeppers,whichareinshortsupplyduringthedry‐season.Asaresult,thesevegetablessellinthemarketsofthenearbyurbancenterofTamaleforhigh‐pricescomparedtothepricesinregionsfamiliarwiththetechniquesofdry‐seasonfarming,suchassouthernBurkinaFaso.WehypothesizedthatwithitsproximitytoTamaleandtechnicalassistancefromus,Ekumdipecouldenterthismarket,increasingthefoodsupplyandstimulatingsmall‐scaletradegrowth.
ProjectDescriptionUsingdry‐seasonfarmingtechniquestomaximizeusageoflandinEkumpdipeyearround.
ProjectDirector,AdamDemuyakor
October2010
3
ProjectRISEImplementationInstallingtheirrigationsystemsandexecutingourpilotprogram.
Totestourhypothesis,webeganourpilotirrigationprograminEkumdipe.Afterexploringvariousoptions,wedecidedtouseHondaWB30XTPumps($500)andlocallyavailableabovegroundrubberpipingtocreatetheirrigationsystems.TheHondaWB30XTPumpsalsopowermotorbikesthatserveastheprimarymeansfortransportationinthevillage.Hence,mostpeopleinthecommunityarealreadyquitefamiliarwithitsmaintenancerequirementsandhavesomequiteingeniousmethods(or“Ghanaianways”,asthelocalswilltellyou)forkeepingthesepumpsrunningforyears.
Thesystemworksasfollows.First,placethepumpinanareabetweenabodyofwaterandthedesiredfarm‐area.Then,insertaninputpipe(green)andanoutputpipe(blue)intothepump.Thedistalendoftheinputpipeisplacedintothenearbywatersource(eithertheDakaRiverorthereservoirnearthecommunity)andtheoutputpipeislaidontothepre‐tilledfarmland.Onceallofthepartsareinposition,anindividualstartsthesystembypullingontheblackpullchordthatisattachedthepump.Thepumpwillpullwaterfromthewatersourceandshootitouttowardsthefarm.Thefarmermovestheoutputpipeinordertoirrigatethelandevenly.Eachpumpissufficienttoirrigate2to3acresofland,theamountoflandtypicallyownedby1to3familiesinEkumdipe.
Forourinitialtrial,wedecidedtopurchase4completepumpsystemsandlendthemtoateamof10farmers,whommembersofthecommunitydeemedcapableandcreditworthy.Weconsideredthatselectingthebestfarmerswouldskewourfindings,whichmightnotrepresenttheentirecommunity.However,wedecidedthatconvincingtheskepticalcommunitythattheycouldindeedgrowcropsinthedry‐seasonwasacriticalfirststep,andcapablefarmerswouldbemostlikelytoensurethesuccessofthepilot.
Throughgrassrootsfundraising,weaccumulatedsufficientfundstopurchasethesupplies.Also,ourteamwasfortunateenoughtocollaboratewithHarvardEconomicsprofessorDr.Richard
Freeman,whoextendedagranttoProjectRISEinexchangeforon‐the‐groundresearchinEkumdipe.Thissolvedourthreemajorproblemswiththetrialatthesametime:funding,theneedforexternalassessmentoftheproject,andtherequirementforincreasingourownaccountabilitybyaddingthescrutinyofaprofessional.Atthetime,ProfessorFreemanwasbeginningintensiveresearchontheimportanceofwaterindevelopingregionsoftheworld.Ourirrigationprojectfitperfectlyintothenatureofhisresearch,andhewaswillingtoprovidefundsinexchangefordataandupdatesontheimpactofwaterinthisparticularcommunity.Withthefundsraised,Dr.BawaDemuyakorandtheADIRISEteampurchasedthepumps,pipes,fertilizer,andseedsfordryseasonfarming.
OnceinourteamreachedGhana,Dr.BawaDemuyakorprovidedtechnicalassistanceandloanedthe10‐farmerteamitssupplies.Heexplainedthattheywouldneedtorepayatminimum10%ofthecostsafterthefirstdry‐seasonfarmingcycle,usingtheprofitsfromtheadditionalcrops.Basedontheoutcomeofthepilot,theserepaymentrateswouldbeadjusted,forfutureloans,andappropriateinterestrateswouldbeset.Allrepaidloanswouldbeusedtofundthepurchaseofmorepumps,andeventuallytofundotherlocalmicro‐enterprises.
Afterthetownmeeting,weconductedbaselinehouseholdsurveysforourresearchwithDr.Freeman.WemodifiedaZambiatestedpro‐socialorientationquestionnaire,designedwiththeintentofunderstandingparticipants’standards,opinions,andexpectationspriortotheinitiationaproject,andmadeitappropriateforaNorthernGhanacommunity.Ourquestionsfocusedondeterminingthefarmers’attitudeonworkingonthebehalfofotherseveniftheirfamiliesarenotthesolebeneficiariesoftheproject;theirwillingnesstopaybackthesuppliessothatothercommunitymemberscouldprosper;howtheirworkethiccomparedwiththatofthewholecommunity.Lastly,weaskedthefarmersiftheyfelttheprojectwasaworthycause.Alltenanswered”yes”.
ProjectRISEReport October2010
4
Therearemanychallengestoworkingwithsucharural,remotecommunity.Lastdryseason,weencounteredonesuchobstacle.Weaskedpeoplefortheirincomelevelstoobtainabaselineagainstwhichtomeasuretheeffectsofourfarminginnovation.Welearnedthatinthecommunity,peopleareloathtodisclosepersonalfinancialinformation.Consequently,wearedevelopinganewmethodbasedonharvestyieldsandprevailingmarketpricestoestimateincreasesinincome.Wewillsupplementthisreportwithqualitativesurveydatainordertomeasurethesuccessofthepilot.
ThisDecember,theADIRISEteamwilltraveltoEkumdipetoconductourfirstmajorassessmentandcritiqueofthetrialphaseoftheproject.Tocloselymonitortheprojectinourabsence,weselectedarespectedmaleschoolteacherinEkumdipetoactasliaison.Wewillprovidethishim/herwithalaptopsohe/shecanprovideweeklyupdatesonthatstatusofthesystem.
Lastseason,thefirstyearofourproject,thefarmerssuccessfullygrewcropsinthedryseasonforthefirsttime,somethingtheyhadneverdonebefore.However,ourcropyieldwaslowerthanexpected.Dr.BawaandtheRISEteaminGhanaattributedthistoadeficiencyinmotivationandknowledgeaboutdry‐seasonfarming.Toincreasemotivation,beforethenextdryseason,wewillrecruitanoutsidefarmerfromtheBawkuregiontosetupafarm.Thisindividualwillsetupanewfarmintheregionandfarmamongst3‐4farmersofthepilotgroup.Ourhypothesisisthattheexposuretoasuccessfulfarmandaccesstoknowledgeableexpertwillcausetheothermembersofthesystemtoquicklycatchonandexperiencehighyieldsaswell.Otherorganizationsthatintroducednewtechnologicalinnovationsinunderdevelopedregionshaveemployedanoutsidertodemonstratethesuccessoftheproject.Weexpectthatanewfarmerwhohasexperienceddrasticsuccesswillmotivatelocalfarmerstoworkhardfortheirownharvests.
NextSteps
Assessing,critiquing,andovercomingobstaclestosuccess.
October2010
5
OurProgress: Selected10farmersbasedonprecedenttrendsofsuccessinrainyseasonfarming Purchase4HondaWB30XTpumps Purchaseapproximately400metersofrubberpipeworkstoattachtothesystem TransportsuppliesfromthecapitalofAccratothenortherncommunityofEkumdipe Beginpilotirrigationsystemutilizingthetransportedpipesystemandthe10initialfarmers Identifyonthegroundcommunicationliaisontoensuremoreaccuratereal‐timeupdates Provideliaisonwithpropercommunicationmeans(laptopcomputer,wirelessrouter,etc) HireoutsidefarmerfromBawkuregiontobetterdemonstratesuccessfuldry‐seasonirrigationmethods Revampsystemtomeasureoutcomes(newsystemwillrelyonprevailingmarketpricesinsteadratherthan
viafarmerrecollection) Acquireextrapipeconnectionstospreadareaofwateringandfurtherenhancetheexistingirrigationsystem Newfarminputsfornextseason:
o vegetableseedso weedicideso insecticides
Follow‐UpBudget:$2,030PipeAdjustmentEndings($1000)
Seeds,Insecgcides,andPesgcides($175)TillageofLand($25)
AcresofLand($10)
TillageExpense($250)
TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative:::ProjectRISEReport October2010
TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative67HighlandAvenueRandolph,MA02638
ChiefExecutiveOfficer,DarrylFinkton
ExecutivePresident,SanguDelle
Forgeneralinquiries,[email protected]
DearReaders,Asyousawinthepreviouspage,itwilltakeroughly$2,030tosuccessfullycarryoutthenextphaseofProjectRISE.Ifyouareinterestedinhelpingusfundthesecomponents,pleasevisitourwebsite,www.africandi.com,andselect“Donate”orjustclickthefollowinglink:http://www.africandi.com/?p=donateNoneofourprojectswouldbepossiblewithoutyourendlesssupport.Thankyou.Sincerely,TheADIBoard
Recommended
