Avocado project 2006 and beyond...

Narrative on my SPA Parachichi (Avocado) Project
(I just thought I'd post this here for fun. I had to submit this to my Peace Corps Supervisor, pictured with me above on my friend Kowzen's farm):

In my small, corn-farming village, there is not a fruit tree as far as the eye can see. In fact, this was the first thing my Supervisor, Virginia Kainamula, remarked upon during her first visit to Manga. I too certainly feel this absence of fruit; I have to bike 20 kilometers to Makambako’s market even for a banana!

Fortunately, soon after arriving in the Njombe district, I discovered an NGO called Enterprise Works, specializing in assisting local farmers to plant trees, specifically fruit trees. Funded by USAID, this organization was established by a returned Peace Corps volunteer, ironically enough. I knocked on their office door in Njombe, met their staff, explained the situation in my village, and we were soon planning their introductory trip to Manga.

They came, they saw, they assessed—our soil, climate and elevation with a handheld GPS. From this assessment, their field officer devised a list of seedling varietals, which would be conducive in our environment, particularly at our high elevation of 1609 meters (5277 feet). Above all, he recommended avocados since they would perform the best and serve to be the most marketable. Moreover, they could sell us the seedlings for a discounted price and deliver them directly to us in their truck-gasoline paid for by USAID! Wonderful, I thought. It was almost too good to be true.

With Virginia’s guidance, I wrote a SPA grant inviting the Enterprise Works Field Officer to our village for a series of educational seminars on the preparation, planting and proper care of seedlings. With local leaders’ assistance, I invited all primary students, their parents, and other interested villagers to attend. The grant also included giving each student-all 576 of them-their very own avocado seedling to plant at their home, plus 25 additional ones to circle the school grounds.

The stated purpose of the project was to increase the amount of fruit grown locally so as to enhance the nutritional intake of villagers, especially among village youth, decreasing the number of villagers visiting the dispensary, as well as to provide income generation. In one of the sessions led by Enterprise Works, they explained how after 3-4 years, their tree could produce up to 800 fruits per year; and if each of these fruits was sold in Makambako for 200 TSH, the going rate, they would profit 160,000 TSH. There would be no more complaining about school fees or tuition then!

The Field Officer came as promised, facilitating these seminars and simultaneously, selling the village leaders and S.A.C.C.O.S. micro-lending group on the benefits of fruit trees. While the students and their families gained knowledge, the desire for growing fruit trees grew exponentially-so much so that villagers created their own order list to purchase seedlings. It was convenient that the S.A.C.C.O.S. members happened to be the most self-starting in the community and those with highest disposable income. They were truly the impetus for this movement. When all was said and done, these individuals, as well as other Manga residents, signed up to buy over 400 seedlings! I was amazed and excited for what this would mean for the future of Manga.

In late December, just after the rains began, Enterprise Works arrived with their first seedling drop-off. After 3 separate trips with over 300 seedlings in their truck bed, they fulfilled our order. That day, nearly 600 students and over 400 villagers planted their seedlings at their respective homes. Kowzen, “my grandfather” of the village and expert farmer, bought over 30 seedlings to essentially create an avocado farm. Manga had changed overnight.

Thankfully, we were blessed this year with heavy rains for our 1000+ new trees. If conditions continue to work in our favor, Manga residents of all ages should eat their first local avocado in 2010, boosting nutrition on a large scale. As they begin to eat more balanced, vitamin-enriched meals, we hope illnesses like colds, coughs, and flu will diminish, thus alleviating the burden at the local dispensary.

Additionally, if they choose, villagers will have the capacity to sell these fruits in Makambako’s market, augmenting their household incomes, so that affording school tuition for their young ones isn’t such a struggle. As a result, more village youth will have the opportunity to continue onto Secondary School, costing a mere 20,000 TSH per year ($20/year).

I pray the “fruits” of this project will be seen, tasted and felt for years to come. I often dream of returning to Manga in 10 years to see kids strolling along the village road, snacking on avocados instead of corn. Anything’s possible.

*Picture above of me and Virginia Kainamula on Kowzen’s avocado farm and below of me with some of the villagers who purchased the seedlings on their own