C.A.R. (Tuesday, July 5)

Today we went out to see some of the farmers that the CEFA farm works with. We visited a couple cooperatives which is the primary way that CEFA works in the community. First we all climbed in a land cruiser pickup and traveled down a path which they called a road. Oh, and I should introduce all those in the "we." We includes Roy and I, the 3 men who joined up with us at Cameroon, Roy D. (our missionary host), Benoit (the director of CEFA, and Nadej (another CEFA staff member). Most of the guys bounced around in the back the truck on what Roy calls worst road in CAR.  :)  (They were mighty nice to me and I got to sit in the front while Benoit drove.) We stopped when the road started becoming just a motorcycle path. A hike from the truck brought us down to the field. One of my first impressions was "where is the fence?" To me, no fence means that there isn't many livestock around that would otherwise destroy the crop. 

One of the coop members describing his field

This field was a peanut and cowpea field, and they had also planted cassava, an important staple crop. The cooperative members joined us out in the field. This was their first year grouping together as a coop. They had received permission to clear and plant on the village chief's land. This coop also was made up of members from the same church. CEFA  had given them seeds to plant, tools to work the field and expert advice. At the harvest time the coop will give back the same amount of seeds to the project, they will also save enough seed necessary to plant the next year, and the rest of the crops can be divided or sold. Money from the harvest will go into a lock box where there are 3 different locks and 3 different keys. They will decide as a group how the money will be spent & 3 different key holders provide accountability.

Roy looking at the health of the peanut plant with the CEFA director, Benoit looking on.

While the farmers already know how to plant, CEFA comes alongside to help them improve their technique. First, their access to tools is limited and so they provide tools for the Coop members to use. Second, CEFA teaches some techniques to help get the most harvest from a field of crops. They learn about crop spacing instead of just broadcasting seed or putting several in one hole. This year this coop learned about distancing the plants. Next year they'll learn about planting in rows and also plant a different crop. 

The peanut, cowpea and cassava field

We also learned about the importance of land ownership. They would love to purchase their own land. CEFA teaches the importance of doing this properly and getting the land deed (a challenge that comes with paperwork--difficult if you aren't literate!) One goal of many cooperatives is to plant fruit trees eventually (interspersed with the crops). BUT, we learned that if you plant trees on borrowed land (or land that you own but don't have the deed) then suddenly the land owner sees the value of the fruit trees with their fruit and he claims that the fruit is his and takes the land back. The cooperative is then left with nothing and must start over. 

After lunch we visited the "Garden of Eden." This is an acreage on the mission station in Gamboula where Roy D. has collected and planted trees and plants from all over the world. They are arranged in sections according to the continent of their origin. Plants that do well here may be propagated and used in the community. We saw all sorts of fruit trees and fruits that I've never heard of. 

Roy D. showing us a jack fruit. 

Then we went to the mission hospital for a tour. They treat many things including lack of nutrition--mothers and their young children are particularly susceptible. Malnutrition patients and children will stay for 3 months, and the ladies learn how to plant vegetables, eat healthy and save seed for the next year. When they leave they will receive a machete for at tool and seeds to plant at their home.

Nadej showing us the nutrition garden.