Overseas Programs

DRC Micro Devru program 1900-5021

Report: November 12, 2009

Excerpts from a report for the period from January to June, 2009 prepared by Wayne L. Niles, PhD

Project implementation was curtailed this summer by delays in receiving the funds in DRC until late July.  Most partners were able to maintain a low level of activities or borrowed funding from other projects to maintain program activities.

Objective: Distribute disease resistant, high yielding cassava planting material and offer training in best production practices and make supervision visits.

BTEDE (Mennonite Church of Congo):

•   Seventeen fields of disease resistant cassava seed cane is allowing exponential growth of new gardens.

• Fields from prior years used for seed cane have been harvested (dug up) for the tubers and sold by the respective associations. Recipients appreciate the higher yields easily visible by the six to ten tubers per plant. Levels of mosaic infection in the resistant varieties remain below detection. 
• 283 persons were taught by BTEDE staff to recognize the signs of mosaic virus and remove diseased (non resistant) plants.
• In six additional areas 98 persons, 63 male, have newly established demonstration and multiplication fields.
• Two trial gardens of a new resistant cassava variety were introduced and are being explored as they may offer higher yields.

ACDI – Lusekele (Baptist Church of Congo / International Ministries ABC/USA):

• Associations comprise 1,527 members (613 women) in 110 associations.  58 associations are new and preparing gardens for disease resistant cassava to be planted in the fall of 2009 following 30 days of training.
• Staff distributed 8,450 m of seed cane to four associations that established 5.63 ha of multiplication gardens accessible to seven villages.
• Villages collaborating with ACDI displayed near immunity against mosaic virus with incidence levels below 1% as compared to severe levels in other communities ranging from 40 – 80%. Education is an important component as  mosaic disease is traditionally thought  to be caused by lightning or related to ancestral rituals. 
• All associations say households report being able to pay medical and school fee bills.  107 households report paying all costs associated with the state final exam.  34 households report enrolling for the first time a family member in university.
• 11 individuals from five different associations report replacing the roof sheets on their homes, an average of 120 sheets per house.

Objective: Distribute enhanced, high yielding, dwarf palm trees and offer training in best production practices.

BTEDE:

• 120 palm plantations have been established since 2005.  Most were intercropped with cassava to benefit from weeding. 80% of the palms are growing well.  20% suffer from potassium shortage, high temperatures, high water tables or lack of care.
• The 2008 established nurseries are doing well with 3,634 of 4,000 seeds planted in evidence (92.3%).
• 63 association leaders benefited from training in palm culture and palm nursery management.

ACDI:

• 612 farmers of high yielding palms have 172 ha in production. 65% of plants are being weeded consistently; other farmers are encouraged to do better. Palms readily show signs of potassium deficiency. ACDI has shown that wood ashes placed around the base solves the problem. Trees so treated in October-December 2008 are completely recovered as of June 2009.  Growers are very pleased with this technique which saves the cost of fertilizer.

• 108 planters from 43 associations are now regularly producing palm oil (9,060 liters to date) and are pleased with the quality of the oil which they are able to sell at double the local price (1,000F). 
• 5,309 of 5,839 palm of the Lame cross seeds planted in nurseries in 2008 are thriving (90.9%) slightly less the success rate of 2007 (97.8%).
• 2,626 of 2,000 Nigeria cross seeds are thriving giving a success rate above 100% due to a high number of twin seeds; ACDI staff are very happy with the size and growth rate of the 2008 cohort.  Nurseries were fertilized with NPK 17-17-17 due to potassium deficiency symptoms observed. 
• Nurseries are being managed well.  Diseased plants are being isolated.  One nursery attacked by grasshoppers was protected by hanging cassava branches around the palm plants.  Other planters are learning from this example.
• 137 persons attended training in palm production from associations managing palm nurseries. ACDI receives increasing numbers of requests for participation in the palm project.

Objective: Distribute high yielding cowpea and peanut seed and offer training in best production practices.

BTEDE:

• 266 persons (145 women) are now trained to be seed producers according to national norms.  Members from 20 associations are now producing grain legumes (peanut and cowpea) using improved production techniques.
• 96 persons (39 women) in 10 associations are producing a total of five hectare of Vita7 cowpea seed.
• Average price for peanuts was $2 per kg. Huts in two communities with associations show many huts with new tin roofs. 100% households surveyed report being able to pay school fees for their children. One farmer purchased a parabolic TV dish with sales of peanut and cowpea.

ACDI:

• Multiplication trial results:

1. Icrisat 502: 995Kg from 210 planted
2. JL 24: 453 Kg from 210 planted.
3. Mukongo: 167 Kg from 210 planted.

129 persons (56 women) assisted in harvest and weighing as well as discussed the results.

• Of 96 persons from 12 villages interviewed 25% reported harvest of four sacs/ha having planted on bottom land and 75% reported two sacs/ha (40 kg/sac) having planted on upland.  All reported incidence of rosette and aborted pods due to problematic rains this year. Peanut yields ranged from 120 to 560 Kg with increases of four to seven times what was planted.
• 27 associations agreed to conduct peanut trials of which 17 were new. 774 persons (275 women) worked to clear and prepare peanut fields for fall 2009 season.  They will receive free peanut seed which they will evaluate and be able to keep for multiplication.
• Five associations (82 persons, 43 women) participated in multiplication of cowpea IT98K-463 in isolated fields to assure seed purity.  102 Kg of seeds were planted in seven Kg/garden lots. Overall 716 Kg of quality seed was produced with individual yield increases ranging from 6x to 12x. Cowpea seed producers paid back the seven Kg given them and then sold the rest as quality seed for a significant profit.

Objective: Increase household incomes through the production of vegetables near urban markets

BTEDE:

• 19 associations (39 households) established 58 market gardens with an aggregate total of 569 garden beds were in production. Association members report abundant consumption of vegetables in the family and sales from ‘door yard’ plots to neighbors. All beneficiaries report significant income from market garden sales, some as high as $3,000 per month during the peak season June – August.
• Activities reported as a result of increased income:

1.   Others report meeting household needs such as clothing, utensils, and medical bills.
2. One woman bought a $55 Sharp radio, another purchased 10 galvanized roof sheets while yet another purchased a goat and cell phone.
3. A man made a down payment on the bride price for his fiancé.

Objective: Introduce sustainable soil conservation/improvement technologies such as cover crops and fast growing leguminous trees.

• Three nurseries of 120 acacias were established by BTEDE associations. Supervision visits have been teaching occasions particularly for 16 school teachers in one area who have remarkably followed technical advice in reforestation.
• Eight hectares have now been reforested with acacias.

The members of the MicroDevru team offer their sincere gratitude for the generosity of the Foods Resource Bank in funding this very important work and the help of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in providing stateside backup for the program.