In the past, to prepare for the farming season, farmland was cleared of bushes through manual labor. Owners had to employ laborers to hand-weed the farm at a cost. In recent times, however, the cost of laborers has become quite expensive and even difficult to come by as more people get involved in farming. During a Transformational Community Development (TCD) meeting, the members discussed how to tackle this challenge.

Brother Alpha, a native of Bomborma Village who frequently attends the TCD meetings, felt inspired by the deliberations and decided to tackle the weed problem on his farm by adopting a modern approach. He proceeded to apply the use of herbicides to clear his farm in preparation for the farming season.

He says that if this approach is successful, it would be even more beneficial for him and his farm, as it would enable him to reduce costs and provide locally sourced manure/fertilizer. After the herbicides are applied, the sun dries the grasses, and when the rains eventually start, the chemicals will help the grasses rot more quickly, transforming into manure that could improve crop yields.

Thank you!

Written by Mirabel, GHNI Volunteer