ProjectRISE

RuralIrrigationSystemforEkumdipeSeptember2011Report

TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative September2011

Since the last Project RISE update, ourteamhasbeenhardatworkandoptimisticabout a potential second harvest thissummer. In March, the demonstrationfarmersfromBawkusuccessfullyproduceddry‐season crops on a large scale for thefirst time in Ekumdipe.This was a majoradvancetowardsthegoalofempoweringlocal farmers in Ekumdipe to grow dry‐seasoncropsontheirown.Thepilotgroupof tenfarmers,KanoEgyeMan (KEM), has yet to replicate thissuccess because of a number of factors.The KEM members underestimated theintensity of labor and the amount of timerequiredtonurseandharvestonionsduringthe dry‐season. While theBawku farmersusedseedlingsnursedinBawkufromseedsideal for dry‐season farming, the KEMfarmers were unable to due to a supplyshortage; instead, KEM tried to nurseonion seeds themselves, and wereunsuccessful.Theheavyrains,signalingthebeginningofyamseason,returnedbeforeKEMwasabletotransfertheir seedlings from the nursery to the onion beds. Fortunately, these seeds were relativelyinexpensiveandourfinancialprojectionsallowedformarginoferrorduringthetrialyear,soKEMisstillcapableofundertakingdry‐seasonfarmingnextmonth.

ObstaclestoReplication

ReturnofKeyPartnersInthisupcomingdry‐season, itwill be useful to have ourmain liaison in Ekumdipe,Dan, backwithus. Duetosevereillnessesofhiswifeandnewbornchild(whoarenowthankfullybothdoingwellandrecovering)Danwasnotabletoworkduringthepast2monthsandhisabsencewasamajorcommunicationandactionhindrance.Hisreturnwillallowustorespondtofutureproblemswithseedlings,fertilizers,poorweather,andtheotherpotentialroadblockstodry‐seasonfarming.In addition to Dan’s return, the Bawku farmers recently communicated to Dan that they areinterestedinreturningtoEkumdipeaswelliftheirtransportationcostsarecovered.

TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative September2011

Atthemoment,thereisnomoreplantinguntilthedryseasoncomesaroundinthenextfewweeks.Thistime,KEMplanstostartfarmingatthebeginningofthedryseasoninlateSeptember/earlyOctober. Since the KEM members are busy harvesting the crops from their personal farms(primarily yams and cassava), they have identified a youngmanwho can tend the existing onionnursery.HeistakingtheroleoftheyoungerBawkufarmer,Joe,whoseresponsibilityinthepastwastendingthenurseryandwhoproducedthepreviousdry‐seasonharvest.Additionally,thereturnoftheBawku farmerswillbevery instrumental to the successof theproject.Thisseason,wewillexpecttheKEMmemberstoworkside‐by‐sidewiththeBawkufarmers.Theywillthuslearnwhatthedryseasonfarmingentailsfrombeginningtoend,andhopefullywillnotneedtheBawkufarmers.

ANewSeason

Currently...KEMisattemptingtoselltheonionsgrownonthedemonstrationfarmthispastdry‐season.Sincetransportation isachallenge inEkumdipe, the farmersare relyingonbuyerscomingtothevillageratherthantransportingtheonionstolargertownstosell.Storageisalsoachallenge,especiallyintherainyseason.Theonionsrequireconstantdryingandairingintheopentopreventrotting.Theestimateforthesaleoftheonions,oneandahalfsacksis150Ghanacediswhichisequivalentto100USDollars. We will explore options of transporting onions to larger markets and improvingstoragefacilities,whichcouldsignificantlyenhancerevenues.

TheAfricanDevelopmentInitiative September2011

LookingtotheFuture

TheKEMmembersremaincommittedtotheproject. Giventhesuccessofthedemonstrationfarm,thefarmersbelievetheycanreplicatethatsuccessthisdry‐season.Withmoretime,knowledge,and resources, this dry‐season has much promise. As they were unable to purchase seedlings lastseason, KEM has spent very little of their loanmoney and remain financially capable of investing inProject RISE without further financial assistance from ADI. For KEM, the difficult task will now beimplementationandfollow‐through.

Whilethedry‐seasonharvestearlierthisyearwasagreatstepforProjectRISE,thesetbackofthesecondharvestduetoashortageofseedlingswasdisappointing.Nonetheless,giventhefinancialstatus of the project, our team is excited about the upcoming season.With lower anticipated costs,greater coordination between outside experts and the locals, and a more secure supply of inputmaterials,ourteamisanxiouslyanticipatingtheinitiationofProjectRISEPhaseIIIinSeptember.

ChiefExecutiveOfficer,DarrylFinkton

darrylfinkton@africandi.com

ExecutivePresident,SanguDelle

sangudelle@africandi.com

Forgeneralinquiries,contactadmin@africandi.com

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