Farm Field School Field Day Bana

Farm Field School Field Day Bana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbI3m2xtl_o
Conservation Farming (CF) Farm Field School conducted by Allan Sorflaten PAg, CESO volunteer on site in Bana, Cameroon, Africa as part of a Workshop coordinated by Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) to assist an area where Food Security is in question.    Participants who presently farm depleted soil low in fertility anxiously apply CF principles in planting cassava.  Note the setting up of the plot, the marking of the planting holes, use of the hoe as their means of cultivation, the addition of fowl manure to mix with the soil in the hole, the experimental planting of the cassava upright, the use of mulch between the rows.  Participants water the hole because this is the beginning of dry season for them.

 

Participants arrived at 8 o’clock carrying cutlasses, hoes, watering cans,  cassava cuttings for planting and two very long bamboo poles.  Allan was prepared with lengths of twine and markers in the form of bottle caps.  Work began to clear the plot using cutlasses.  Participants cut small bamboo the length of the distance between the rows.  Bamboo was cut, twine attached the length of a row.  Bottle caps were squeezed together to mark where the cassava plants would be planted.  Rows were set up.  Corners were squared using the long bamboo poles to make a right angled corner.

 

Mulch from the cuttings was left between the rows.  Ladies marked the row under the twine using the cutlasses.  Holes began being dug with the hoes. Jean Waupi brought chicken manure purchased from Bafoussam.  Participants who were going to handle manure were given breathing masks.  Jean explained that, because dry season is starting, the holes need to be watered before planting.

The cassava farmer explained how to plant the cassava cutting upright (how to choose a proper node, which end is up and how deep to plant it).  Several of the participants commented later that these were things they did not know.

Holes were dug inbetween the cassava and squash seeds were planted.  Holes were watered for the squash as this is the beginning of dry season.  Mulch was lifted, shaken and replaced between the rows. 

 

We moved to the front of the building where participants told what they had learned and we assembled for a group picture.  One of the participants brought a treat- corn she had grown and cooked especially for us.