Peacebuilding and better crops

Peacebuilding and better crops

Idris is one of the many people who is very happy with ZOA’s model farm in Umm Makhareeg village, in Darfur, Sudan. He explains: “I have been a farmer all my life, but I only knew traditional agriculture. ZOA trains us in agricultural methods using new technologies, and teaches us how to prepare the land, select the best crops, sow, fertilise, water and harvest.” The participating farmers are trained in sowing sesame, beans and maize. Idris never thought he could grow these crops on their soil type, but on the model farm the farmers see that this is possible. Idris continues: “We always sowed crops in a large area and we put a large amount of seed in each hole. We also left a space of one to two metres between each crop, but now we are applying what we learned from the model farm, such as the distance and the correct amount of seed to plant. The farmers in my village and I were afraid to grow beans because of the soil type, but now I have planted an entire Mukhamas with beans.” Idris notices that people who travel past the model farm also go on to apply the agricultural methods they see there. This will improve their harvest as well.