Notes to Broadcasters

Farmers across Africa are weighing their options for biofuel crop production. The rising cost of fossil fuels has created high demand for biofuels – fuels made from plant or animal sources – and large biofuel companies are visiting rural areas, looking for farmers to supply the biomass. Our special report from Nourou-Dhine Salouka of Jade Productions describes how one group of farmers is resisting the call of large biofuel companies and planning to open a local biodiesel plant. By taking this approach, farmers in the Nayala province of northwestern Burkina Faso address two common concerns about the production of crops for biofuels – that it reduces food security by switching land from food to biofuel production and that the wealth created from biofuels will not be enjoyed by farmers.

The following articles from past issues of FRW look at how farmers in other parts of the continent are responding to the demand for biofuels:
-“Herders oppose controversial sugarcane project” (FRW#29, July 2008)
-“Campaign for biodiesel intensifies but farmers remain cautious” (FRW#7, January 2008)
-“The promise and potential perils of biofuels” (FRW#3, December 2007)

This Farm Radio International script describes some alternative uses for jatropha, beyond the production of biodiesel:
-“Jatropha – Not just a biofuel crop!” (Package 80, Script 7, March 2007)

If you’re looking for more information, you may wish to visit the following websites:
-The website for the International Consultation on Pro-poor Jatropha Development, an event held by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development this past April. The event featured perspectives on biofuels from various countries, as well as discussion on the conditions necessary for biofuel production to benefit rural residents: http://www.ifad.org/events/jatropha/index.htm
-The website of the Centre for Jatropha Promotion & Biodiesel, which includes detailed information on jatropha cultivation and business plans for jatropha farming and biodiesel processing: http://www.jatrophaworld.org/index.html

If you would like to research a local story on biofuel production, you may wish to ask some of the following questions:
-What do farmers in your area think about the idea of producing crops for biofuel production?
-Do farmers in your area currently produce biofuels for use on their farm or in the community? If so, what is the local organizational structure that manages the fuel production?
-If an external company plans to open a biofuel processing plant in your area, how do farmers plan to maintain their food security while also producing crops for the plant?
-If there is already a biofuel processing plant in your area, are small-scale farmers contributing to production? How do they rate their experiences in working with the processing plant (e.g. support for proper harvesting and storage, prices for crops, etc)?

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Though the use of wastewater in urban agriculture can be harmful to human health, Liqa Raschid-Sally of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and principal author of the recently-published study says that its use should not be banned. If this were to happen, some vegetables would become inaccessible in cities. Ms. Raschid-Sally states that 75 per cent of cities are supplied with vegetables grown in urban or peri-urban areas and irrigated by wastewater. To see the full IWMI report, Comprehensive Assessment of water management in agriculture, visit: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/SWW2008/PDF/CA_53_city_Final_August_2008_V5.pdf.

Wastewater is any water that has been altered through human activity, whether through domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other use. Some types of wastewater are more harmful than others. Wastewater is separated into two categories: blackwater and greywater. Blackwater contains many pollutants or substances that are difficult to eliminate such as cosmetics, fecal matter, and industrial byproducts. This water typically presents the greatest danger to human health since, in most African cities, it is not treated before being used on vegetable crops. Greywater is considered more acceptable for agricultural use. This type of water has been used in the home, usually for washing dishes, bathing, or showering, and contains far fewer pollutants.

Here are some additional resources on wastewater and safer ways to use it:
-The World Health Organization Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241546832_eng.pdf
-A study on Irrigated Urban Vegetable Production in Ghana, its characteristics, benefits, and risks: http://www.cityfarmer.org/GhanaIrrigateVegis.html
-A video on safer use of wastewater in urban agriculture, entitled Recycling Realities in African Cities: Towards safe wastewater use in agriculture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s17_35B7SdY
-An audio report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on the food crisis and the use of wastewater in urban agriculture in Uganda and Ghana: http://www.cityfarmer.info/cbcs-dispatches-reports-on-food-crisis-city-farming-uganda-ghana/

You may also wish to consult the following Farm Radio International scripts and news stories on urban agriculture and best practices for using wastewater:

Urban agriculture:
-“Urban agriculture provides relief from high food prices” (FRW#23, June 2008):
-“Garden on your rooftop” (Package 39, Script 2, April 1996)
-“Grow vegetable vines in small spaces” (Package 39, Script 1, April 1996)
-“Gardening in tires” (Package 41, Script 5, July 1996)
-“Reduce lead in city gardens” (Package 41, Script 2, July 1996)

Wastewater:
-“Garden while you shower” (Package 54, Script 3, January 2000)
-“Use moringa seeds to clean dirty or polluted water” (Package 54, Script 11, January 2000)
-“Growing vegetables when water is scarce” (Package 45, Script 7, July 1997)

Finally, here are some questions that may help if you choose to research the use of wastewater in urban agriculture in your area:
-What sorts of fruits and vegetables are grown in your city?
-Where do the urban farmers get the water for their crops? Do they know if the water is safe for this use? How do they determine its safety?
-In the face of growing water shortages, what methods do urban farmers in your area use to ensure their supply of water for irrigation?

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In many countries in the Great Lakes region and in West Africa, the emergence and restoration of peace is allowing for a return of citizens – refugees and internally displaced people, as well as former combatants. These citizens return to the enormous challenge of restoring their livelihoods. In past issues of FRW, we have looked at the progress that farmers in countries such as Liberia and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have made towards restoring their crops. This week’s article offers a glimpse at the restoration of the DRC’s fishing industry, an important source of food and income for many Congolese. While many African countries are trying to establish or expand fish farming, the Congolese are working to re-establish pre-war levels of production to meet local demand. Similarly, they hope to restore coastal fish markets to their former vibrancy.

The following articles provide two other examples of post-war recovery of fish farming:
-From Uganda, an article by The Monitor: “Fish farming in Uganda provides income and food”: http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=1960
-From the Republic of the Congo, an article by the International Committee of the Red Cross: “Former refugees producing cassava and fish galore”: http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/congo-brazzaville-feature-090807

The following stories from past issues of FRW look at the challenges and progress of small scale farmers working to restore their land and incomes following conflict:
-“Cocoa farmers supported to rebuild livelihoods following civil war” (FRW#32, August 2008)
-“Civil war landmines threaten returning farmers” (FRW#14, March 2008)
-“Re-integration of ex-combatants through agriculture” (FRW#10, February 2008)
-“Farmers rebuild agriculture sector against all odds” (FRW#9, February 2008)

If you broadcast to an area that is recovering from conflict, your farmers will surely have many stories to tell. You may consider hosting a phone-in/text-in show to ask farmers questions such as:
-When you returned to your farm, what were the first steps you took to begin providing food for your family?
-Have you altered your farming practices since your return (for example, does the farmer now plant “survival” crops to provide food in difficult times)?
-What challenges have you faced – and what challenges do you continue to face – in rebuilding your farm and farming business?
-How has your community and/or farmers’ association worked together to overcome these challenges?

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As this story reveals, farm workers are among the most vulnerable people in many African countries. Living arrangements that are tied to employment contribute to this vulnerability, as do low income and low rates of formal education. Under these circumstances, farm workers have few options available to them. However, farm workers are finding ways to stand up for their rights. This July, for example, the Farm Workers Summit in Northern Cape, South Africa, brought together local farm workers so they could arrive at a consensus about their employment concerns and propose possible solutions. This story also cites examples of employers and the government taking action to improve the quality of life of farm workers.

The following links lead to further discussion of some issues raised in the story:
-“Nearly one million farmer workers evicted since 1993,” a story from the World Socialist Website published in 2005: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/afri-o24.shtml
-Excerpt from “Ethics in agriculture: An African perspective,” an academic description of the circumstances that make farm workers vulnerable:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=ew8b8SUwuwYC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=africa+farm+workers+rights&source=web&ots=dOB-WewxAW&sig=iFpfxciZqsde2PPxntMUhPl9PPE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result
-“Sisal farm workers refuse to surrender spartan life,” a recent news story by The Nation about the struggle of farm workers to obtain regular pay: http://allafrica.com/stories/200804151277.html
-Farm Radio International script: “The grim fate of farm labourers in the Western Cape, South Africa” (Package 81, Script 5, August 2007): http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/81-5script_en.asp

Broadcasters can play an important role in giving a voice to vulnerable people and exposing human rights abuses. If there are large commercial farms that employ farm workers (especially workers who live on the farm) in your area, you may consider conducting an investigative report to discover whether their living conditions and employment conditions are acceptable to the workers and meet the standards set by the laws of your country. A farm workers’ association may be a good place to start. A human rights NGO may also be able to alert you to reported or suspected problems. Radio programs about farm workers obtaining better living and working conditions also have great value. They can validate the efforts of employers endeavouring to improve labour conditions and give farm workers knowledge of what can be accomplished.

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The benefits of traditional crop varieties versus hybrid or “improved” crops have long been debated by farmers, scientists, and rural development specialists. The experience of Ephrance Nakamya illustrates some of the pros and cons of planting hybrid crops. While hybrids are typically engineered to resist pests and produce high yields, their seeds cannot usually be saved. Thus, farmers who use hybrid seeds must purchase them anew each year. Another common concern about hybrid seeds is that they require more inputs, such as chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Even still, many farmers have found that hybrid seeds are the best option for their farms.

This story also deals with concerns about hybrid crops that extend beyond the individual farmer and their yields. A large civil society movement is working to preserve traditional crops, fearing the long-term impact of losing biodiversity through monoculture farming. They point out that beneficial genes can be lost if plant varieties disappear due to lack of interest by farmers. And while farmers may, in the short term, gain the highest profit from hybrid maize, they may need access to different varieties in the future if the environment or market conditions change. This is why Joseph Magezi encourages all farmers to seek out and grow a variety of traditional crops. He also emphasizes that many traditional crops have known medicinal properties or cultural significance, which would be lost if the plants disappear.

In the past few months, Farm Radio Weekly has produced other stories looking at farmer success with hybrid seeds and traditional crops:
-“Improved seeds improve livelihoods for women” (FRW #27, July 2008)
-“Traditional vegetables make a comeback” (FRW #22, May 2008)

You may also refer to these Farm Radio International scripts which discuss the benefits of crop diversification for family income and health, as well as tips for experimenting with new varieties:
-“Comparing crop varieties: Start small, go slowly” (Package 68, Script 8, September 2003)
-“Diversify crops to keep your family healthy” (Package 65, Script 1, October 2002)
-“Diversity beats disease in the rice field” (Package 58, Script 3, January 2001)
-“Radio spots: Grow many different crops and crop varieties” (Package 56, Script 4, July 2000)

For even more scripts related to this important subject, visit Farm Radio International’s script banks on biodiversity (http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/biodiversity.asp) and crop production (http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/crop.asp).

You may consider hosting an on-air panel discussion among experts, including farmers, about traditional crops and the use of hybrids. Be sure to allow time for farmers to call or text-in to ask questions or describe their experiences. Some questions you may consider important for discussion include:
-What are the area’s traditional crops? What are some of the benefits of these crops, such as adaptation to the land and climate, nutrition, taste, etc? Do many farmers still grow these crops, and on what scale?
-Do farmers in the area use hybrid seeds? Where are they purchased and how much do they cost? Are chemical inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides required to grow these hybrids? What precautions should farmers take to protect their family’s food security when trying a new hybrid variety?

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Through FRW, we endeavour to keep you posted on global decision-making that affects small scale African farmers. This often means following UN conferences or international trade talks. But when ministerial meetings designed to revive the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations broke down in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of July, the impact on small scale farmers was difficult to discern. As this story indicates, many people have called the talks’ collapse the “Death of Doha” while others believe that the talks are merely stalled. Whether the “death” or stalling of negotiations is positive or negative is also open to interpretation. Ministers representing an countries in Geneva indicated a strong preference for the talks to move forward, as they sought a reduction in developed-country subsidies on export crops, particularly cotton. However, La Via Campesina expressed a view shared by many anti-globalization groups when it stated that “this collapse is a victory in the long struggle against WTO.”

The following links will help you find additional information on the Doha Development Round and the implications of their collapse:
-WTO’s July 30, 2008 press release on the collapse of talks: http://allafrica.com/stories/200807300068.html
-Wikipedia entry on the Doha Development Round with details on the history of the negotiations, including the breakdown of the latest talks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha_Round
-Inter Press Service’s analytical commentary “Safeguards for small farmers straw that broke Doha”: http://allafrica.com/stories/200808050419.html
-Afrik.com summary of Africa’s role in the talks “Le fiasco de l’OMC laisse l’Afrique sur le carreau” (in French only): http://www.afrik.com/article14896.html

You may wish to further investigate the impact of current WTO trade rules on small scale farmers in your country, as well as what is at stake for local farmers in the Doha Development Round. Good sources of information may include: representatives from trade ministries, leaders of national farm organizations, and NGOs that specialize in agriculture and trade issues. As with all controversial issues, be sure that you hear a number of different perspectives. You could share this information with your audience in the form of a news report or a round-table discussion followed by a call-in/text-in show that allows listeners to ask any questions.

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Farm Radio Weekly first looked at the struggles and tenacity of Liberian farmers when we published the story “Farmers rebuild agriculture sector against all odds” in Issue 9, February 2008. We learned that as more than one million Liberians return to their homeland following the civil war that ended in 2003, farmers are facing an uphill battle to re-establish their livelihoods.

In this story we see the particular challenges of cocoa farmers, a group with special concerns because most of their crop is produced for export. Cocoa farmers in Lofa, Nimba, and Bong counties have benefitted from the Sustainable Tree Crops Program, which has helped to ensure that farmers have the skills and genetic resources (hybrid seedlings on par with those used by Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer) needed to rehabilitate their cocoa plantations. To learn more about Sustainable Tree Crops Program initiatives in West and Central Africa, visit: http://www.treecrops.org/.

Readers in other areas recovering from conflict may recognize some of the challenges faced by Liberian farmers, such as the need to rehabilitate untended fields and rebuild seed supplies, all without the support infrastructure such as roads and credit systems they may have enjoyed prior to the conflict. The following Farm Radio International scripts provide information and ideas for farmers working to re-establish their livelihoods following a conflict:
-“Rebuilding local seed supplies after armed conflict or other emergency situations” (Package 67, Script 1, June 2003)
-“Sharing the load after conflict: Villagers start a revolving loan fund” (Package 67, Script 4, June 2003)

If you broadcast to an area that is recovering from conflict, your farmers will surely have many stories to tell. You may consider hosting a phone-in show to ask farmers questions such as:
-When you returned to your farm, what were the first steps you took to begin providing food for your family?
-Have you altered your farming practices since your return (for example, does the farmer now plant “survival” crops to provide food in difficult times)?
-What challenges have you faced – and what challenges do you continue to face – in rebuilding your farm and farming business?
-How has your community and/or farmers’ association worked together to overcome these challenges?

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Aweke Teshome was in for a pleasant surprise the first time he brought his crops to the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. Although he is an experienced farmer, he never knew the market price for his produce or how it rated. At the exchange his crops received the lowest grade, but he knew that he was paid a fair market price. He left with a strengthened resolve to produce larger yields of higher quality.

The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, or ECX, opened its trading floor in April. It is a new system to connect farmers and traders around the country, making commodity trading easier and more reliable for both parties.

Farmers are now assured a fair market price for their products. Previously, Mr. Teshome was at the mercy of local traders. He was unable to negotiate price, but rather forced to sell his product for whatever price was offered. Through the ECX, farmers can access information about market prices at any of 200 locations.

Mr. Teshome explains that the ECX also ensures that he can sell any surplus. Since he does not have any storage facilities, he used to lose money during times of surplus. The ECX, however, runs six storage warehouses spread throughout the country, so farmers are always able to sell their crop. Mr. Teshome explains that the system encourages him to produce higher yields for this guaranteed market.

Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin is an Ethiopian economist who was the driving force behind the founding of the exchange. She was struck by the fact that Ethiopia can have a bumper harvest one year and severe shortages the next. Or that there can be surpluses in one region and famine in another.

Ms. Gabre-Madhin worked with farmers, traders, and the Ethiopian government to develop the ECX. She says the exchange will help to balance out the surpluses and shortages by improving farmers’ access to the larger domestic market. It should also open up access to the export market.

Ms. Gabre-Madhin expects that more farmers like Mr. Teshome will be encouraged to produce more food, thus reducing the risk of severe food shortages in the future.
Farmers will also have more information to help them decide which crops to plant.

So far, six commodities are traded through the ECX: coffee, sesame, haricot beans, wheat, maize, and a traditional grain called teff. It’s expected that small scale farmers will make up 95 per cent of the contributors to the ECX.
Click here to see the notes to broadcasters on the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange

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A common concern among African farmers is that they are at the mercy of local traders. Without access to markets or market information, many farmers feel powerless to negotiate with traders. The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) is being hailed as a revolution in Ethiopian agriculture and a model for trading systems in other African countries because it creates a system where farmers are guaranteed a fair market price and traders are guaranteed a good product. In researching this story, we found that South Africa has the only other “viable” commodity exchange in Africa.

In countries where such exchange systems are not available, communication technology is helping some farmers gain access to market information to ensure they get a fair price. Some radio organizations research current market prices and broadcast them regularly. Market information is also more readily available online, and in some areas, farmers can access this information through their cell phones. Another way that farmers can improve their bargaining power is to build good storage facilities for harvested crops. Proper storage ensures that farmers do not have to sell their produce at a time when the market is flooded and prices are low, but rather that they can wait until market prices are favourable.

To learn more about the ECX, visit:
-The official website of the ECX: http://www.ecx.com.et/
-A PowerPoint presentation created by ECX’s CEO and founder, Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin in 2007: http://www.unctad.org/sections/wcmu/docs/c1em33p10_en.pdf

More information on ways farmers can ensure they get the best price for their produce (and how radio organizations can help) are found in the following Farm Radio International scripts:
-A five-part series entitled “To market, to market” (Package 66, Script 6-10):
-http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/66-6script_en.asp
-http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/66-7script_en.asp
-http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/66-8script_en.asp
-http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/66-9script_en.asp
-http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/66-10script_en.asp
-“Market News on MEGA FM” (Package 83, Script 3, March 2008): http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/83-3script_en.asp

You may wish to host a call-in/text-in show that allows farmers to discuss the local market situation – the challenges they face and methods they have used to obtain better prices. Here are some questions to ask:
-How do farmers in your area typically sell their produce? Do they feel that this system allows them to earn a fair price?
-What methods do farmers use to obtain information about current market prices?
-Do farmers in your area store their crops until the market price is favourable? How do they prevent damage to their stored product?
-Are there farmers who organize themselves into cooperatives to obtain bargaining power when selling their crops?

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In January of this year, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a press release to emphasise that the H5N1 strain of bird flu remains a global threat. The FAO advised that between December 2007 and January 2008, avian flu outbreaks were identified in 15 countries around the world: Bangladesh, Benin, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Myanmar, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and Viet Nam. Dr. Joseph Domenech, the FAO’s chief veterinarian, said that “globally, much progress has been achieved in keeping the H5N1 avian influenza virus under control” yet “the H5N1 avian influenza crisis is far from over.”

Bird flu remains a serious threat to the livelihoods of poultry farmers. The control of outbreaks requires massive culling of any birds that may be infected and leaves farmers waiting for government compensation that may or may not come. But the gravest concerns over bird flu stem from the fact that it can be passed from birds to humans. Experts worry that the H5N1 virus could mutate and become transmissible from person-to-person, at which point it would become far more dangerous.

Here are some resources to learn more about H5N1 bird flu, the threat it poses to humans, and what poultry farmers can do to prevent its spread:
-The World Health Organization’s home page on the disease:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
-The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) home page on the disease:
http://www.oie.int/eng/info_ev/en_AI_avianinfluenza.htm
-The Poultry Site’s home page on the disease:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/bird-flu/bird-flu-news.php
-Wikipedia’s entry on the disease:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1

Your radio organization can play a role in stopping the spread of avian flu by raising awareness of the disease and of its prevention measures. The following Farm Radio scripts may help you develop programming:
-“Biosecurity – A new way to look at avian flu prevention” (Package 79, Script 7, November 2006)
-“Avian Influenza Spots” (Package 79, Script 2, November 2006)

You could also hold an on-air round table discussion with local experts on avian flu. Try to include people knowledgeable about both the human and animal health risks, and at least one farmer who is taking measures to protect their farm from the disease. Ask the experts to explain what the local threat is (for example, whether infections have been identified in the area, or if there are factors that make the area vulnerable) and the best way for people to reduce their risk. Be sure to allow time for listeners to call or text in with any comments or questions.

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Lethal yellowing is a disease that affects more than 38 species of palm trees. As we noted in the story, the first warning signs of the disease in coconut trees are coconuts dropping prematurely, followed by the yellowing of leaves. Eventually, the leaves turn brown. In the span of six months, all of the foliage falls, leaving the trunk bare. By killing the trees, this disease destroys the livelihoods of those who sell coconuts or produce products like coconut oil.

And it’s not only in Ghana that lethal yellowing disease is ravaging coconut trees. The adjacent coast of Togo is also affected, and also Nigeria. The coastline of Ivory Coast, another of Ghana’s neighbours, seems to have been spared. In East Africa Tanzania and Kenya are affected.

The International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT), in association with Biodiversity International, is a network of coconut producers. The network’s goals are to improve the production and use of coconut and to conserve the biodiversity of coconut trees. Through the organization’s website (http://www.cogentnetwork.org/index.php?page=membercountries) you can find resource people, listed by country. You may wish to interview a local resource person for a program on coconut trees. To obtain free copies of COGENT’s publication, contact Yeow Giap Seng at: g.yeow@cgiar.org.

You can also find out more about coconut growing through discussion groups hosted on Yahoo! and Google. The Yahoo! group is dedicated to coconut lethal yellowing disease while the Google group discusses everything about coconuts. If you have questions about coconuts, discussion forums can be a good place to find answers.
- http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/CICLY/message/2222
-http://groups.google.com/group/coconut

The Centre de Coopération International en Recherche Agronomique Pour le Développement (CIRAD) website provides several interesting resources (available in French only):
-This link introduces a study on coconut lethal yellowing disease in Ghana. You can also find details about an international workshop on the disease that was held in Accra, last June: http://www.cirad.bf/fr/lyd.php.
-An article published in March 2006: “Lethal yellowing in coconut trees in Ghana, a new hybrid is tested”: http://www.cirad.fr/fr/actualite/communique.php?id=508
-A presentation entitled: “Lethal yellowing disease in Ghana: one researcher’s impressions and observations”: http://www.cirad.fr/fr/web_savoir/curieux/animations/cocotier/cocotier_fr.html

Finally, the following Farm Radio International scripts may complement your programming on coconut lethal yellowing disease:
-“Grow vegetable crops with coconuts” (Package 55, Script 3, April 2000)
-”‘Survival’ crops provide food during times of need” (Package 67, Script 2, June 2003)

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Drip irrigation is an approach to watering crops that has been heavily promoted in recent years. As we saw in this story, it is of particular interest to farmers who cannot rely on rainwater during the dry season. Increasingly frequent droughts have also spurred interest in drip irrigation. Farmers from Dap Dior, Senegal, had tried other techniques to water their crops during the dry season. Concrete basins were installed, but farmers still had to water crops by hand. A sprinkler system was installed, but farmers did not find it cost effective – water was wasted through evaporation and fuel was needed to power a generator. (It cost much more to fuel the sprinkler system than the pump for the new drip irrigation system). A video was created to show how farmers in Dap Dior and its neighbouring village use drip irrigation: http://www.csmonitor.com/mediaplayer/index.html?file=http://csps.edgeboss.net/download/csps/csm/flash/webmedia/senegal_768k.flv&height=403&width=600
To learn more about drip irrigation, visit:
-The Wikipedia entry on drip irrigation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drip_irrigation
-A technical handbook on drip irrigation produced by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency: http://www