BioDesign N/L 14.3.11- Information just received about 2 DIY Solar & One Clay Pot Project March 13, 2011
I want to thank you for the contributions you are making to serve the rural African population. I honestly buy into your ideas because Mr Akonsi can tell you that it is the exact message that I have been conveying to him all along. I knew all along what the solution was and had prepared their minds for it but did not have the solution to offer them. You and Dr Noah have found the answer and depending on the specific group of people you are dealing with, implementation should not be a problem.
The population in rural parts of Cameroon are very vulnerable because they have been completely excluded from information and knowledge. They are willing to accept anything better than what is currently available to them. Mr Akondi is one of the few people who have dedicated their lives to bringing life to these remote areas. And I tell you, these people need help.. Mr Akondi found you the same way he found me and I with the little resources that is available to me have tried to help them until it was draining me. The problems are real.
On December 2009 I visited Cameroon and took with Mr Akondi, of all of these villages. They WIDO members received me in anticipation because they believed I would connect them to the outside world. I had long meetings with the Women and listened to their problems. They are not looking for handouts. They are looking for options!!!!!!!!!!.
I don't know about other countries, but I can speak on behalf of WIDCO members or the people of Banso which is also my village of origin. I did not have the backing to do anything for them, but now I feel like I do. I have the support of the traditional leaders in Banso to create a model that is designed to better the lives of the rural community. If we can implement it in Banso, believe it will catch on like wild fire in other rural communities.
Please, Mr Knight, I will make myself available to work with you, Mr Akondi and Dr Noah in developing a model for the Banso community in Cameroon.. Sustainable economy is not real until the community is educated on stills that will make them self sufficient. I also believe that the rural community should be made to contribute in kind or financially to any effort that is to their benefit.. And I know for a fact that they are ready and willing to.
Mr Knight, I need to know from Dr Naoh how he was able to carry out the learning projects in schools in the rural area because some of the conditions of these schools are deplorable. No Windows, no door lucks not security of any kind. How did they protect the raw materials? It is for all these reasons that I want us to implement an existing model.
I am sorry for the long email, but it is only because this issue has been in me for so long. I want to thank you for your input and look forward to a sense of direction.
Yensah Vega
First of all I want to say thanks for the information and knowledge you have given me in the past 2 years and also give you an update what progress we have made in the past couple of months.
I am based in the UK but running a small solar business in a city in Nigeria called Abeokuta. Our interest is based mainly on using small pv modules (5v) and 1.5v to 6v rechargeable batteries to power between 3 and 8 LED lights.
We currently have 3 types of products, -
1. Solar light made of a small plastic “Children lunchbox” with the battery inside the box and panels and led lights mounted on the outside.,
2. Converting cheap “Chinese lamps” into solar lights by replacing the batteries with rechargeable and mounting on the frame 1 or 2 small solar panels.
3. Training other on the concept and and practicalities of making small solar lights.
We start operating properly from August last year when I purchased 500 small panels from China (Sinisolar) and sent it to Abeokuta in Nigeria. Since then we have made close to 100 of product1 and approximately 80 chinese conversion (which was started early this year) . The Chinese conversion is very popular mainly because so many people have broken or non workable Chinese lamps and are happy to pay to have it converted.
We intend to continue with this production and continuously trying to drive cost down. I have in the past bought some panels from you at a cost of £2 each. The ones I bought from china cost approx £1.2 to £1.30 including posting to Nigeria.
What I am seeking is a source of small panels we can buy in bulk (500- 1000) at say much lower prices than those quoted above. Will be grateful if you can either provide panels or point us to a source you know.
Introduction
A demonstration project to test the use of clay pots for subsurface irrigation was initiated on July 20, 2010, in the village of Atebes, Ethiopia. Funding for the project was provided by the CFHF Foundation. Five farmers were first trained on how the system of buried unglazed clay pots for subsurface irrigation works. The project initially made possible the plantation of nearly 300 apple trees. The plantation of other variety of fruit trees and vegetables will continue. Students who were on their summer vacation also received the training side by side with the farmers. For the demonstration project, 106 apple trees were planted around 53 clay pots. Under a clay pot irrigation system and under surface water irrigation, 88 farmers were given between 2-7 apple trees to be planted around their homesteads. Moreover, forty-eight students were given 2 apple seedlings each to plant around their homes and irrigate them using clay pots as was demonstrated in the pilot study. All the participants are registered for the project and the local experts working for the project will follow their developments. Two farmers who were influenced by our activities also planted 53 and 5 apple trees respectively. Many people would have continued to plant the fruit tree but the seedling was finished form the market for the time being.
Meeting with community leaders in Atebes
Identification of demonstration site
A community plot was identified for the implementation of the demonstration project. Being the rainy season, other land was already occupied by planted crops. It was agreed that small and large domestic animals will not be allowed to set food in the area. It was recommended that the traditional schoolmaster will look after the plants once they are planted based on reasonable payment. The schoolmaster is not from the village and is paid in kind for food and some pocket money. The school master was happy to contribute to the success of the project in collaboration with the youth leader.
Training of trainers
We initially trained 6 trainers on the use of clay pots for sub-surface irrigation. We freely distributed 12 dwarf apple trees to the trainers to be planted as a practice, based on the manual we prepared on the use of water filled buried clay pots for sub surface irrigation. The trainers understood why clay pots are efficiently useful to water the plants under the topsoil. It did not take much for them to recognize that the moist soil that is created around the water filled clay pots provides water to the plants through their roots. The trainers took the leadership roles when the holes for the seedlings were being dug, the soil and compost were mixed and when the apple trees were planted.
Acquiring clay pots
Getting the clay pots was one of the most difficult aspects of the project. Even though we had anticipated the shortage of clay pots due to the pervasive domination of plastic containers and imported metallic cooking utensils, we did not anticipate the situation would be that acute. During one meeting on collecting clay pots several people said that clay pots simply don’t exist anymore. Further, we were unable to purchase clay pots from the market because traditional pots are not made during the rainy season. The rainy season is also characterized by the shortage of firewood and dried dung in order to fire the clays. One farmer noted that the few clay pots they have at home are extremely important to each household and recommended a clay pot -jerry cans (plastic containers) exchange. We bought 53 jerry cans and asked households to donate their clay pots in exchange for jerry cans. We collected all the necessary clay pots we needed for the first phase of the project and the farmers were happy with their new larger, lighter and durable water containers.
Digging of the holes
Following the identification of the project demonstration site, 11 students and 6 adults dug holes to bury the clay pots. The involvement of the 11 students was deliberate so they can subsequently learn the techniques of using clay pots for sub-surface irrigation. Initially, 76 holes were dug but 16 of them were rejected for being rocky and too shallow. Clay pots were subsequently buried in the 53 holes. A mixture of compost and top soil was filled in the ground around the clay pots where the fruit trees will be planted.
Collecting fertilizer/compost
Discussions were conducted with community members over the debate of using chemical fertilizers or compost from dung. After discussing the benefits and disadvantage of chemical fertilizers by a soil expert accompanying the project leader, it was agreed that the use of dung was more appropriate due to water scarcity in the area. Several people volunteered to bring composed/dung by donkey or by carrying it on their backs from their households. The fertilizer was collected at a central place to be mixed with the soil during the plantation process at the project demonstration site. Farmers who participated in the project by planting the fruit trees around their homesteads were advised to follow the same techniques.
Burying the clay pots
The size of each hole was adjusted by measuring the circumference of the clay pots of various sizes. The project trainers showed the people who were hired to bury the clay pots, the technique of putting the mixture of topsoil and compost around the pots and then planting the fruit trees. The trainers played an integral role during the process. Lastly, the buried clay pots will be filled with water at the end of the rainy season.
Acquiring distributing seedlings
We wanted to plant several kinds of fruit trees as well as various vegetables using the technique of clay pot sub-surface irrigation. However, we initially started with the plantation of apple trees. The dwarf apple seedlings were bought from the local Ministry of Agricultures seedling distribution center in the nearby town of Adigrat. We rented a car to take them to the project demonstration site. We initially bought 297 apple trees and 2 coffee seedlings. Of these, 106 of the seedlings were planted in the demonstration project and the rest were distributed to students and other households that were interested to be part of the project. Our taxi driver was influenced by our project and bought 53 apple trees using his own money. We plan to provide him with further technical support. All the seedlings were finished for now.
The participants are registered for the project and volunteers will follow them through monthly visits.
The proposal idea of planting 10 seedlings in the demonstration project was upgraded to more than 100 for several reasons. The people are extremely dispersed and following them individually on foot would be impractical. The community provided an enclosed area of and, which was convenient for the planting. Secondly we also wanted to expand the participation population during the second phase of planting. Thirdly, there has been increasing demand for apple trees and we will continue to distribute during the second round with other varieties of vegetation such as olive trees, pear and plum trees that are resilient to the cool, highland climate. Moreover we plan to introduce vegetables during the second phase of the project during the dry season and test the durability of the clay pots irrigation system while educating the people in the process.
Planting the fruit seedlings
Seedlings were bought on Friday, July 23, and planted on Monday, July 26, 2010. The seedlings were planted around the clay pots. People took detailed care of the seedlings based on the training and manual. They made sure that the topsoil was properly mixed with the compost and that the seedlings were about 30 centimeters away from the clay pots.
Planters were also very careful to trim the long roots so that they wouldn’t twist. After planting the trees people brought water from the nearby pond and watered them generously. Fortunately, rains continued to pour for several days. It was decided that we would not fill the clay pots with water due to the heavy seasonal rains. The pots will be filled with water at the end of the rainy season in September.
the pots. I have read that if they are fired intensely the micro pours
are closed and they do not pas the moisture. The pots i used are the
ones that are build in the community for traditional household
activities, mainly to hold and store water or beer. They are also
fired using dung, buried for one week. Farmers state(and i have seen)
that when water is stored in clay pots the soil where the the pot is
sitting is wet and seeds do grow there. I believe that the intensity
of firing affects the flow of water.
clay pots for sub-surface irrigation. my work should be called
demonstration. i planted 112 trees and 12 of them died. Those who died
were either planted with no clay pots or the clay pots leaked due to
breakage 9stones were dropped or animals put their legs etc. The pots
were filled with every Saturday. The plants without pots were also
watered weekly and they could not handle the aridity and died. Under
dry season from September to February the seedlings that were water by
clay pots blossom while the other were dry. here i am talking about
apple trees and i was told by experts that one plants needs 10 liters
of water per week.
precipitation under different conditions. it was really led and
managed by farmers and the method is the plant dead or alive kind of
observation. Those that are constantly water by the clay pots are
still alive and well. This new to the village since it does not have
any tradition or access to irrigation.
tsegay