AGRICULTURE

FROM COMMUNAL TO COMMERCIAL FARMER

It is an agricultural training program. Communal farmers, or subsistence farmers, are trained for three years in an intensive training program. With access to technical support and training within economy and organisation the farmers are able to earn a good surplus, at the same time as they study agriculture and get a first hand experience with new crops and new techniques.

FARMERS CLUB

The project Farmers Club organises small scale farmers into local Farmers Clubs. The Farmers Clubs get training through extension services, new crops are introduced, the input for the farming season is bought in bulk, and good agreements with the suppliers, as well as agreements about the sales of the produce are made. Farmers Club runs community banks, where members can get small loans, and various income generating productions are started.

The Cashew Plantation

CASHEW PLANTATION: AN EXAMPLE WORKING AS A DI WITH AGRICULTURE

At the Cashew Plantation work is being done on improving the quality and the management cashew growing. The Cashew Plantation is set up as a future income generating projects. At present 125 he. have been planted.

We work with 2 different types of tree: the traditional cashew tree and the dwarf. The traditional tree grows big, and 100 trees can be grown per he., the dwarf tree is smaller so we planted 200 trees per he. Most of our trees are grafted, and we have a nursery for multiplication. It is important to find the best varieties, in order to keep control of the best performing trees; we have a database, where a total of 17.000 trees are registered.

In order to secure the harvest we protect our trees against diseases, the most frequent problem is the Powdery Mildew.  The cashew harvest is from October to December, this year we expect to exceed the budget goal of 15 ton, but it seems like prices are rather low.

We work on plans starting a small processing unit of 250 ton, where the processing is done manually. This should help us to add value to the nuts, so that we can export a finished product.  Besides the nut, the cashew tree also produce an apple, which is fleshy, juicy and sweet but with tannin content, it therefore is best sprinkled with salt and sugar. We are looking into the use of the apple apart from our own consumption. As annual crops we mainly grow sesame.

DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTOR IN CASHEW PLANTATION'S PRODUCTION

This job is for the ones having a particular interest in agriculture. The plantation is divided into plots, and each plot has a plot-keeper, who is responsible for the work in his area. The plot keepers make regular inspection in his plot, and the results are entered in our database. In the nursery we multiply the best cashew varieties, the grafting take place from January-February and we have another period for budding from June to August.

All the transplanting must be done before the 15th of March. We have also started to do the grafting in the field. It is important to make sure that all plants survive, and that the new plantings and the changes are entered in the database, as it is a tool for analyzing the performance of the varieties. The plot-keeper must also control the cost. Each hectare/plot has a budget, and we cannot allow ourselves to exceed the planned budget.

Our plan is to set up a processing unit, the start depends on, when we manage to get the funds for the establishment. The Plantation and the Cashew Center will host many people on 2-3 weeks courses. They will be trained in the nursery and on spraying techniques.

Your tasks as a DI in Production and Processing:

• Support all plot-keepers that their records are up to date.
• Make sure the database is up-to-date, and together with the plot-keepers identify out best 10 varieties. Make the information available.
• Collect weekly information on the costs per plot and weekly compare the costs with the budget. Inform and advice the plot-keeper on the result.
• Participate in the collection of data in the field.
• Training of a responsible for taking over the entering of data in the Database.
• Prepare 3 x 2 weeks training courses in cashew-diseases, control of diseases and spraying.
• Prepare the practicalities for these courses as budgeting, food, lodging, program, cleaning, control of materials and in all ways support the instructor in charge of the training.
• Prepare some of the lessons in the course.
• Participate in the evaluation of the skills learned during the course. Make the reports. Around 20 people will participate in each courses.
• Prepare 2 x 3 weeks training courses in cashew multiplication.
• Prepare the practicalities for these courses as budgeting, food, lodging, program, cleaning, control of materials and in all ways support the instructor in charge of the training.
• Prepare some of the lessons in the course.
• Participate in the evaluation of the skills learned during the course. Make the reports . Around 10 people will participate in each courses.
• Marketing of the processed nuts on a local level.