Environmental Impacts: After three years of drought, farmers turned to vegetable gardening over cattle herding. Natural farming methods were adopted including seed-saving and using chemical-free fertilizers. Vegetation was planted to prevent erosion. The group hopes to form an environmental club at the local school to plant edible greens as well as trees. The land has gone from barren to green and flourishing.

Social Impacts: The long drought caused all of the community’s cattle to die, destroying the local economy. When the locals turned to vegetable farming, they not only improved their food security, but produced a surplus which could be sold or traded, and reduced the need to take the long, six-mile journey previously required to buy vegetables at the market. Additionally, they have formed an association that helps take their produce to market for them now. In future expansion, the team hopes to help the local school plant healthy greens for the children to eat. A new teammate was also hired to take these lessons to more communities.

Statistics:

• Number of trees planted: 280
  • 200 planted in Aug 2024
  • 80 planted in Dec 2023
• Type of trees: Mango, papaya, avocado, and coffee trees
• Number of households trained to start small scale vegetable farms: 20
• Goal: 50 households
• 1 Community Garden: 43 individuals work together to take care of the garden, growing vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and peppers.

Achievements:

• In 2023, the community garden earned enough profit for the community to purchase 30 goats.
• The community has now set up a market within the community to be able to sell their vegetables, avoiding the 6 kilometer walk previously haven taken to trade and sell vegetables.
• A new teammate was hired to take the training of small scale vegetable farming at the household level to more communities.

Conservation Agriculture Training – What’s it all about?

In our endeavor of reforestation, we strive to guide the community in the path of conservation farming. There are three main concept of conservation agriculture, which are

• Minimum Soil Disturbance – zero or minimum tillage
• Permanent Soil Cover – Keeping the soil always covered, either by leaving the crop residue, or covering the top layer of soil with mulch.
• Crop Diversification – rotating crops, and planting a variety of crops intermixedly.

Community·Goals:

• October 2024 – Form an environmental club at the local school
• October 2024 – Plant edible greens as well as trees at the school so that the children have healthy greens to eat and can learn about the importance of environmental stewardship.

A word from the Country Director, Fidel Wataro:

One of the core principles of TCD is local ownership. It is truly inspiring to witness the growth of belonging, responsibility, and environmental stewardship within the community. Transitioning from being herders to also being farmers is not an easy transition. It requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to change. Everyday in Dida Hara, young women diligently fetch water from a reservoir to irrigate the plants and trees, demonstrating their commitment despite the challenging nature of the task.

Donate to Support This Project

• $35 for each additional family
• $1,750 expands project for 50 new families

Donate Now