Introduction

In January, at its quarterly meeting, the Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) Board of Directors decided to extend repayment of the loan for the twenty-two goats to eleven Twisungane families until March 2022.  This allows the farmers an added year in which to grow their goat population, making it less burdensome to repay the loans.  The Board also decided to loan funds for another motorcycle once repayment for the current loan reaches a satisfactory level and, to fund sewing machines for the Twisungane cooperative.  (All TFH loans have zero-interest.)

Trials of the ceramic water filtration systems have started.  Three volunteer families are evaluating the systems.  If the systems are acceptable, TFH will work to help provide each family in the Twisungane cooperative with their own filtration unit.

We have been considering digital innovations and how to introduce them to our farmers.  World-wide there are many innovations (e.g., ‘apps’) that have exciting potential in helping subsistence farmers.  Suitable innovations will help development of rural communities through digital technology and the ‘internet of things.’

During January, we reviewed the existing knowledge base and preferences of the farmers about food preservation.

During January, the seasonal agricultural activities started as usual.  The no-till farming trials were successful.  Now the farmers are using the technique where workable.

Introducing Digital Technology to our Farmers

Digital technology in agriculture may be able to help in areas such as marketing, financial services, crop insurance services, data-driven targeted application of fertilizers and pesticides, securing weather forecast data, climate information, and soil moisture sensors, etc.  Digital technology is getting greater emphasis in African agriculture.  Use of digital technology may seem too sophisticated for smallholder farmers however, we believe that there are strategies we can implement to help the farmers take advantage of digital technology.  For example, we may be able to set up the equivalent of agricultural extension agents to help the farmers in understanding and using internet connected devices such as smartphones.

A first step may be for the Twisungane cooperative to obtain a few smartphones.  In Rwanda, such cellphones cost $100.00 each, plus service fees.  With the phones, smallholder farmers can access more useful information.  Such access can revolutionize how rural communities secure their livelihood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Rwanda, most rural communities can access the internet.  In our Twisungane cooperative homes we counted only two smartphones among twenty-two members.  Such smartphones are expensive for our farmers however, we need to show them the advantages in having smartphones for their development journey.

Farmers need prompt and correct information in the same way any small enterprise does.  Smallholder farmers may get information through cell phones such as,

1. weather and climate forecasting from national climatology/METEO agency.
2. market information to buy inputs (seeds and fertilizers) and, to sell their products.
3. irrigation and fertilizer advice for their crops.
4. access crop protection advice and insurance.

Farmer Food Preservation Preferences

Food preservation is a valuable tool that our smallholder farmers can use to manage the small amount of crops they have.  A lot of their harvest is lost due to improper food preservation techniques.  TFH gathered information and made an analysis of the food preservation methods that are more preferred and useful to the farmers’ condition.

Our farmers have their preferences and knowledge in some types of food preservation.  TFH met with them and saw some mismanagement caused by lack of knowledge about food preservation, and lack of proper tools.  Some of the crops which they cultivate can be preserved e.g., maize, beans, cassava, sorghum, Irish potato, and sweet potato.  They are reviving and using traditional preservation methods such as sun drying, salting, and cooling by digging a hole to store crops like cassava and potato, and changing some crops into flour to be used later.

Our Twisungane farmers are still having problems preserving some items such as fruits, and some vegetables.  Our farmers know they lack the knowledge and ability necessary in some of food preservation techniques such as canning, vacuum packing, sugaring, and chilling.

Frank has been teaching farmers the benefits of food preservation such as,

1. Save money – avoid buying more than they can use / preserve.
2. Proper food preservation can help keep some of the food quality.
3. Proper food preservation stops the growth of bacteria in food.

Agricultural Season B Preparations

The agricultural season B started, and farmers were busy preparing for what to plant.    TFH encourages smallholder farmers to incorporate in their planning the PICSA approach (the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture approach evaluates current and historical climate information to predict local rainfall for the upcoming agricultural season).

At the beginning of each agricultural season Frank usually visits every one of our farmers to talk to them and to hear what they are planning and give them necessary advice that is tailored to their needs.

TFH is also encouraging farmers to plan together starting within the family (husband, wife, and children), this makes their family bonds stronger and, in doing so they can prosper together.  After learning to plan as a team, they are better prepared to seek more advice from other farmers and, from local government agronomists where available.

Frank checked the possible agriculture inputs like fertilizers / manure, seeds if available and, field preparations.  This included checking their tools that might help them.

The owner of the collective farm that Twisungane usually cultivate, at this time, has taken it back and Twisungane now are doing farming only on their individual farms (also rented).  Frank will follow up and see what TFH can do.

The Way Forward

Farmers need to be introduced to digital ways of getting information to help them in their agricultural and business activities and to improve their overall knowledge to cope with life better.  Smartphones can be especially important in their transition to more modern and productive ways of working.  Food preservation is still an issue and we will put more emphasis and find the best sustainable solution of their farm produce.

 

Introduction

During December, the farmers began harvesting their crops.  Overall, their 2020 yields improved through use of new techniques such as no-till farming introduced by Tools for Hope (TFH).  Research shows that during harvest, Rwandan smallholder farmers lose 40-60% of their yields to improper harvesting and poor post-harvest handling techniques.

Post-harvest handling (PHH) is one of the most important farming activities.  The activities making up PHH are, cooling/drying, cleaning, sorting, packaging, and storing.  Many smallholder farmers however do not perform PHH activities as they should.  Frank Mutesa, Tools for Hope (TFH) mentor in Rwanda, is training the Twisungane cooperative on how to do their PHH properly.  Proper PHH supports our TFH 2020 goal of improving food security for the Twisungane group.

Also, during December, Frank began discussions with the farmers about evaluating the use of ceramic water filters to purify their domestic water supplies.  We plan to ask for three families to volunteer to use the technique.  If successfully adopted by the cooperative, the farmers’ families would have a more readily available, healthier, and more economical potable water supply.

The farmers’ motorcycle taxi business and their goat raising project continue to prosper.

 

Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling

During this past December farmers began harvesting their crops.  Harvest  continued into January 2021 because of different planting times and different crops.  Those who planted beans  harvested in December and those who planted corn/maize during this season will  harvest in January 2021.

Research revealed that during harvest, 40-60% of the yields are lost due to improper harvesting techniques and poor post-harvest handling.  TFH is aware of this and Frank is there to stop that loss from happening to our farmers.  Farmers are adopting the new techniques and are eager to learn more every day.  They have understood and appreciate the value of learning better techniques in their journey to sustainable development.

As one the most important parts of agriculture, PHH can be a life saver considering the demanding work done during agriculture season.  If not well done, it can ruin all the excellent work put in during the agricultural season.

Frank has been working door to door and, field to field looking at and checking on the kind of crops planted.  Based on his observations, he advised the farmers on harvesting issues which included, looking for better tools that can help farmers during harvest and, also how to go about post-harvest handling (PHH) which needs some proper tools, such as good sacks, good tools for sorting, good techniques of transportation because sometimes poor transporting the yield from the field can cause loss of harvest.

Frank reminded the farmers to take diligent care and plan accordingly, to search for tools to help them in the activities, like sacks, bags, baskets, etc.  Frank also showed them how to sort, the sorting is also especially important because there are those harvested crops that can be consumed at once and those that can be stored / preserved to be consumed later or to be sold later.

Frank examined crops in the fields and provided individual farmers with advice on the time of harvest depending on crop and how their crops are doing in the field.  This is important because there were some farmers who harvested too early before the crop matured.  We are happy to say that the farmers accepted all our advice.  Frank discussed his advice together with them because this is our style, we do not impose solutions on the farmers instead we discuss and show them how best they can manage their tasks.

 

Harvesting Various Crops

Harvesting was successful for those who planted beans (climbing beans and bush beans).  Farmers used all the protocols as discussed and Frank supervised some of our farmers.  They were on time with their harvesting as discussed, they had all the tools, and they used all the modern methods of harvesting without damaging the crops.  In the days before TFH help, they used to make many mistakes including damaging the crops during harvest time and thus caused losses of 45% of their entire harvest.  TFH is doing all it can to stop these losses and introduce new and more effective ways of improving farmers’ activities in sustainable ways.  Their farms are small, and they are still using sickles, hand-held hoes, machetes, and their own hands to farm.  However, Frank helps them to use everything they have in a systematic way to save 100% of their harvest.

 

Our farmers were trained on how to achieve good threshing, reaping, cleaning, and sorting of the crops during harvest time.  Some of the farmers are now harvesting beans and we believe by early January they will be done with the harvest.

 

Twisungane Decides Water Treatment Trial Volunteers

TFH and the farmers are always discussing issues that are outside of basic agriculture when there is time.  We want them not to depend on agriculture alone, that’s why TFH has loaned funds for their motorcycle and their goat project.

Frank discussed on how to continue working on the motorcycle taxi activities.  They are depositing the agreed amount to TFH account to pay their loan.  This is a good sign of the committed people and Frank always encourages them to do it in a seamless way so that they can have that ability and experience in requesting other loans.

We have other pending activities that we discussed like working on the water treatment trials, having more loans, and learning the preservation techniques.  Working with the Twisungane group’s leadership we selected three members that will undergo the water treatment trials using the ceramic water filters TFH purchased from a supplier in Tanzania.

Farmers are also grateful for the TFH support and they told Frank to pass along their greetings and their well wishes to the TFH and TFH Board members in America that you will have a wonderful new year 2021 as you continue collaborating with them in this journey of combating hunger and poverty and enter their better future where they will be able to have decent life and forget hunger forever.

 

Our Way Forward

The farmers continue to grow in their knowledge of not only farming techniques but also of economic value creation.  One of the most significant changes that they have made is to value the ‘spirit’ of saving.  Throughout the third world, most impoverished people have no hope for a future and therefore do not save (anything) for tomorrow.

Farming, even with the best techniques, will not be enough to bring the Twisungane group to middle-class income status.  With formal, full-time employment being scarce for them, they will need to create their own off-farm income producing activities.  To help with this, TFH lends funds (at zero interest) and supplies advice to help them develop small businesses (e.g., their motorcycle taxi business).

From Frank: Thank you once again and we wish you a happy new year 2021 as we continue to prosper and aim for the highest in terms of helping those in need to help themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Frank Mutesa (Tools for Hope mentor to the farmers) has been collaborating with the Twisungane cooperative farmers helping them to fight pests and diseases.   These problems arise during November as the temperatures favor the occurrence of many pests and diseases.

During November Frank had an opportunity to discuss with the Twisungane farmers issues involved with obtaining new loans from Tools for Hope in addition to those they have now.  (TFH loans are interest free)

The Twisungane community suffers from a lack of affordable, nearby, clean water.  Tools for Hope (TFH) is exploring solutions for this issue.  We have already bought ceramic water filters to evaluate the viability of ceramic filtration.  We need to find out if this technique will work in our farmer’s area.

Food preservation is one of the most critical problems that the farmers need to solve to combat hunger.  Most of their crop yields are lost or sold at minimum market prices because farmers have no suitable techniques for food preservation.

Crops Get Appropriate Care in the Fight Against Pests and Diseases

Rwanda has four seasons.  Their short dry season is from December to February, March through May is a long rainy season, June to August is known as the long dry season, and September to November is the short rainy season.  In November, at the end of the short rainy season farmers need to be careful and always ready to work on their farms.

During a rainy season, crops tend to be more affected with pests and diseases because of the favorable conditions for insects and other diseases on wet soil and cool temperatures.  Pests and diseases are difficult to fight when you do not have adequate skills and knowledge.

The farmers had to be trained and shown the techniques to help them know which pesticides and insecticides that can be used and, to know which kinds of pests and diseases that are affecting their crops.  Frank showed them the various symptoms and, how to know the fungal signs.  He is helping them to get rid of these pests and diseases.

Frank encouraged the farmers continually to visit their farms, especially during the rainy season to see what is happening to their farms.  If they detect any signs on the leaves and they do not know what it is, they call Frank at once and he gives them the prompt technical support they need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank helped the farmers on their individual farms and on their cooperative farm.  Farmers managed to apply the required pesticides often enough.  We always recommended that they follow all the protocols that agro-dealers offer.

 

Loan Request Discussions with Twisungane Committee Members 

TFH is not just helping the Twisungane cooperative with sustainable agriculture development, but we also help with other economic development paths.  TFH has supplied loans to Twisungane farmers for off-farm income producing activities.  Developing these activities is essential because off-farm employment is difficult to find and pays little.  TFH is considering giving them more loans because, farmers are repaying their TFH loans very well.  They have now repaid more than a half Million Rwandan francs (> 500,000 Frw) towards the TFH loan they received for the purchase of their motorcycle transportation service.  They are also on schedule to repay the TFH loans they received in March to buy twenty-two goats.

Frank has been discussing with the committee members the possibility of requesting more loans from TFH to expand their businesses, to continue their journey of sustainable development.  They discussed the possibilities of paying them in the same way as they do to the earlier loans.  TFH is their foundation on the issue of getting loans and the loans are the roadmap for their success.

Usually, poor families in Africa are not considered for loans from banks because most of them are not well trained on loan issues, do not have steady employment, and have no assets to provide as loan security.  TFH has tackled these problems and trained the farmers on various techniques and ways to manage loans.

Based on their discussions with Frank, the Twisungane group now would like to request loans for another motorcycle and for more livestock, especially goats.  This is a group request, however there are also individuals who may want TFH loans.  Frank is discussing with them the possibility of requesting helpful loans that they will be able to manage and to repay properly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working on Clean Water Issues

Frank had also time to review the issues of water purification and how best to deal with their water problem. The Twisungane community suffers from a lack of affordable, nearby, clean water (closest is ~ 3 miles away). Tools for Hope (TFH) is exploring solutions for this issue. We bought ceramic filters to evaluate the viability of ceramic filtration. We need to find out if this technique will work in our farmer’s area. To be acceptable the filters must supply clean water at a reasonable cost and be viewed by the farmers as safe, practical, and dependable.

Frank has received three ceramic water filters from a supplier in Tanzania. These will be used in combination with Madidrop+ tablets to start treating water for domestic (potable) use. These three first units will be used in evaluating the water cleaning efficacy of the filters.

Above are the ceramic filters that will be used for water treatment activity.

 

Training Farmers on Food Preservation Techniques

Food preservation is one of the most critical problems that the farmers need to solve because it is one of the best ways for them to combat hunger.  Most of their crop yields are lost, damaged, consumed at once, or sold at minimum market prices because farmers lack proper techniques of food / crop preservation.

Food preservation presents difficult and daunting activities for our farmers, especially for some vegetables which may need canning techniques.  However, some of the crops which they can easily preserve such as maize, beans, cassava, sorghum, sweet potato, and Irish potatoes, are not very well known to the poor families.  We have managed to show them and are helping them with technical support on how to preserve these for future use, especially during dry seasons.

Farmers are starting to apply preservation techniques to their harvested beans and maize/corn.  They are using some old / traditional technologies as well as modern chemicals to fight pests and some insects that damage the harvested yields of beans, cassava, and maize.  We are now trying to develop canning methods.  We will start with some few members of the Twisungane.  Frank will seek advice from TFH staff in the USA.  These efforts will help us defeat hunger among the cooperative members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the old method of preserving maize/corn which is still used in Rwanda by many farmers. This method is used when corn/maize is stored for later use by turning this to maize flour for the preparation of a local meal known as “Ugali” the maize local cake. On the far right, is the canning technology which we are eager to learn and to be able to preserve vegetables and legumes for future use.

The way forward

Based on their progress the farmers should be able to manage added loans from Tools for Hope, in the next few months.  We do not want to get them into too much debt nor, do we want to slow their economic progress.  Presently, a typical Twisungane family may spend up to 50% of their annual income on food.  With good off-farm income producing activities they should be able to drive that percentage much lower.

As mentioned, bank loans are unavailable to the farmers.  Because of their (previous) lack of money, savings, financial and organizational skills, they had no way to develop their own investment capital.  Your financial support for Tools for Hope helps us help the farmers help themselves.  Thank you for your faithful, continued support of their efforts.

 

Introduction

Land preparation and planting / sowing dominated the Twisungane farmer cooperative’s October agricultural activities.  As usual Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) employee Frank Mutesa helped them during these times and gave them the necessary technical support for them to apply effective methodologies to bring about sufficient yields.

The farmers were met with heavy rains which came right after sowing.  This tends to destroy some of the fields due to their topographical condition. Frank was busy showing them how to combat this issue of erosion and be able to save some crops from the heavy rainfalls.

We continued to work on the Twisungane projects and worked on the future projects as well.  All the projects we have are doing great.  We want to give them more business management training so that they can be able to manage these projects themselves in the future.

We still working on the clean water issues.  We which have met some difficulties, but we hope that soon we will begin trials on the best ways to purify our farmer’s dirty water.

We are still working on the issues of food preservation.  We are looking at which types of food preservation we can promote and that can be adapted by farmers easily.

Preparation and Planting Activities for 2020-2021 Season A

Seasonal preparation was done by preparing the inputs (e.g., fertilizers) and working the land to make sure that at planting time farmers will have good land with which to start their season.  The PICSA (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture) approach was used up until planting time.  This important strategy helps the farmers individually and on their collective field, to plan and to decide which crops to plant and which agriculture system to use.  We helped them with selecting good seed and showed them how to use the fertilizers in the best combinations i.e., combining organic and inorganic fertilizers.

 

Helping Farmers with Soil Erosion Strategies and Water Catchment

This October was dominated by heavy rainfalls and this tends to be a disaster for farmers if they are not well prepared.  We have been training them to use PICSA.  PICSA is all about combining weather and climate information from METEO-Rwanda.  That service gives us updated weather forecast information.  We and the farmers use this information to plan accordingly.

The METEO-Rwanda information showed that during mid and late October there would be heavy rainfalls.  After hearing this we reasoned with the farmers to use all necessary means to use best practices to help to catch water in the soil and to fight against erosion and runoff.  Frank showed them how to use furrows and ridges as the better system to catch and store water in the field and to reduce the velocity of runoff from washing away their crops.

Frank also showed them how they can divert the runoff using drainage channels dug in the field and by doing this, they can direct runoff water to an excavated pit and store it for irrigation purposes during drought time.

This is an example of furrows and ridges in the maize field.  The crop is planted in the upper ridge while the furrow acts as the water collection and drain water and use them to infiltrate slowly to be used by the crop roots.

Twisungane Group’s Non-Farm, Income Producing Projects

Twisungane cooperative is not only involved in agriculture, but they are also undertaking other businesses.  Because of the small sizes of their farms they must find income producing activities to support themselves.  The usual way has been for them to try to find ‘day-labor’ jobs when they are not occupied on their farms.  TFH is helping them develop their own businesses.

Their motorcycle is working as a transport facility (taxi).  They are repaying their TFH supplied loan on a weekly basis (Frank reviews and sends TFH a monthly bank statement showing that the cooperative is repaying the loan as agreed).  Soon their loan will be repaid, and they will have full and clear ownership of their motorcycle.

They are also engaged in goat rearing and this is also going very well.  The farmers are asking for another TFH supplied loan so that they can expand their goat business.  As their supervisor / mentor, Frank believes they are ready to have another loan because they have understood the TFH concept i.e., helping them to help themselves.

The photographs above show the current condition of their motorcycle.  It is in good condition.   The farmers are taking good care of it. It has been a year now and the motorcycle is well kept.  Twisungane farmers are now mature in-terms of monitoring their assets and they are well prepared to receive other loans.

Clean Water

During October we ordered materials to conduct three trials of a technique aimed at supplying clean drinking water, economically, to the Twisungane group.  We plan to use ceramic water filters produced at a Tanzanian ‘Water to Wine’ facility (https://www.winetowater.org/our-work-eastafrica) to filter and clean the water, initially.  We also plan to place a Madidrop+ water purification tablet (https://www.madidrop.com/) in the container of filtered water as an added safety measure.   The MadiDrop+ is a micro porous, water permeable ceramic tablet infused with microscopic silver clusters.

We plan to begin our tests in November.  Issues with shipping and communications delayed the project by several weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Way Forward

The COVID-19 virus is still in the farmer’s vicinity.  While they have resumed schooling and all other activities, there are challenges in every aspect of life. Apart from helping our farmers to regain their full strength, kids in school also need our attention for whatever we can do to help them, starting from uniform, books, clean water, chalks and all necessary tools like clothes, shoes and etc.

Recently Frank was touring the village to see how the children were doing.  He found that they are healthy, but they lack proper clothing, shoes and other school materials.

 

 

Introduction

The Twisungane farmer cooperative has been doing great, all their projects have been successful.

Their goat project has been going very well, all their goats have given birth.  This has been a wonderful experience.  It shows how well the farmers can manage their own projects with the help of Tools for Hope (TFH) guidance.  Their goats are kept in good conditions.

The off-farm project of their motorcycle transportation business is doing very well.  Their revenue is good, and they continue to pay the loan as agreed upon.

During September, Frank Mutesa (TFH employee / mentor / consultant) worked on clean water issues.  Sufficient, clean water has been one of the critical issues because during this season of heavy rains, they tend to get too much dirty water.  Frank has been discussing this with their local leaders.

Frank and the farmers are still doing preparations for this planting season, 2020-2021 Season A. Frank teaches them how to calculate rainfall distribution data from METEO-RWANDA, and to plan what crops to cultivate and which agricultural system to use as regards the amount of rainfall predicted for this season.

Frank also tackled the food preservation techniques issues.  Frank reviewed the farmers current preservation techniques, what they lack, and what TFH can do to help them.

Motorcycle Taxi Business

When they get money from their motorcycle transport business, they deposit it at once to secure their loan and have some to their own account.  When they get the money from their motorcycle transport business, they deposit it at once to their loan repayment account and some to their own account.  TFH monitors their progress monthly via their bank account statements.

Continuing Goat Project Monitoring, Evaluations, and Training

September has been dominated by monitoring and by evaluations of the farmers’ goat project.  Frank did this by going door to door and looking at each goat.  Frank assessed their status and, recommended actions needed accordingly.  Frank is happy to say that all goats have given birth, and this is a good sign.  The goat project has been doing well.  This has been a wonderful experience and shows how well the farmers can manage their own projects with the help of TFH guidance.

TFH gave the lady in the picture above 2 goats and now she has 6 goats.  She is taking diligent care of them and she is getting all the benefits e.g., milk, and manure for her farming especially for her vegetable garden (known as a kitchen garden).  This is typical of the eleven families that each received two goats via one-year loans from TFH in March of this year.  Each family will repay their loans with the proceeds from the sale of two of their goats in March 2021.

 

The picture above is of an older gentleman who was given 2 goats.  He has 5 goats now.  He very much appreciates the program.  He told us he wants to start a business of selling meat.  Now he is looking for other 2 goats and after 6 months he will have lots of goats and can start his business.  Frank and TFH are helping him in shaping this idea to see if he may be able to succeed in his planned business.

All the goats from the Tools for Hope (TFH) loans have now multiplied.  Those families who got the fewest (baby goats or kids) now have 4 goats, while those having the most kids have 8 goats, from the 2 goats given to each farmer.  Their goats are kept in good conditions.  What they must improve is the goat houses, some of them are poor and uncomfortable barns.

Frank had an opportunity to show them how to successfully prepare compost using the goat manure.  Frank taught them to prepare a good pit for the manure and to make sure they used something to cover the pile to keep the nitrogen from volatilization (see for example http://cceonondaga.org/resources/nitrogen-basics-the-nitrogen-cycle), and to do a regular mix-up to ensure a proper decomposition. Doing so will result in an excellent quality and a well decomposed manure ready to be used.  Frank encourages them to keep doing better on both agriculture and other development activities outside farming.

Clean Water issues Involving the Farmers and their Local Leaders

TFH is now working on getting better access to clean(er) water for our farmers.  We see a possibility of getting ceramic water filters from a manufacturing company in Tanzania.  A trial set (3) of Madidrop+ tablets is on order to be shipped from the USA to Frank.  We are now in talks with the ceramic filter company to buy three filters.  In days ahead we will evaluate these systems i.e., filtered water will get added treatment from the Madidrop tablets.

Meanwhile we are talking with the farmers to understand what they are willing to try to have clean water.  All proposed TFH solutions must meet the approval of the farmers.  Problem solution must be a team effort for the solutions to be practical and sustainable for the long-term.

During this rainy season, farmers tend to get too much dirty water.  We have been discussing this with their local leaders.  The leaders see the possibility of boiling drinking water to minimize the diseases that coming from the dirty water.  They are looking for ways of filtering water prior to getting the ceramic water filters.  We are in discussions with the local leaders in charge of social welfare about any source(s) of clean water nearer their area.

We have checked available water sources.  Most of the farmers get their water from the river.  That river water is dirty water, but it is the only water that is near their village.  Tap (well) water is far from where the Twisungane farmers live.  They walk for ~3.7 miles to get that tap water.  They pay ~$0.35, for 5.3 gal. of water, which weighs 45 Lb. with container.

Preparation for Agriculture 2020-2021 Season A

The PICSA (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture) approach is being used until in the middle of the season.  Farmers are encouraged to listen to the information broadcast on the radio about the predicted rainfall for this season.  When they have this predicted rain fall information, they can decide what to do if they use the PICSA approach.  PICSA helps the farmer to know the right crop to cultivate, the agriculture system to use, the right variety to be used, and the right input(s) to prepare.  Applying the knowledge from the PICSA approach will help them to make good investments in their time, labor, and finances.  Moreover, soon they will be able to calculate their cost-benefit ratio(s) (Frank is going to teach them this soon).

Food Preservation

We have been encouraging the farmers to be careful to secure their food needs.  Improved food preservation is one of our 2020 goals.  The food preservation methods that we have been discussing with our farmers involve ways of keeping their crop yields safe for longer-term storage and to be able to use them efficiently.

Some of the local techniques used for crops include

• maize – preserve in form of flour,
• cassava – preserved in form of flour, or kept in the pits as cassava roots,
• beans – are kept in a sack with pesticide to prevents insect attack which helps beans keep from being spoiled.

The Way forward

Farmers and their local leaders are really working hard to secure a better tomorrow and they are glad TFH is doing all it can to push our rural people and to equip them with the right knowledge and mentality to achieve their sustainable development. They have now understood that they can also make it to a good life.  And this was done by doing.  (from Frank “TFH is a “do program” if I may say”).  We focus on activities/works rather than words, and that’s why farmers can see it with their own eyes.

Frank encourages them to keep doing better on both agriculture and other development activities outside farming.

Thanks to the TFH USA for the support, the Twisungane farmers are very much humbled and they are sending their warm greetings to all TFH staff and supporters in the USA.  God bless you all.