Agricultural & Livestock Education
and Training Program
In villages across Africa, people struggle to provide food for themselves and their families. Generations of poverty and lack of education have left many unaware of what proper nutrition is, how to grow food to meet nutritional needs and how to farm in a way that provides long-term food security.
The communities in Bondo District are faced with escalating poverty and
health challenges. Kunya Village is especially affected, with
the HIV infection rate placed at 30%. The community’s biggest
challenge is hunger. Although the village is situated on the
lake, there is only one planting season. Most people here plant
maize. Despite the potentials and value of African indigenous vegetables
and crops, communities in Western Kenya continue to languish in poverty
and face social and economic devastations.
Mama na Dada has been promoting re-introduction of African indigenous vegetables and crops to ensure food security all year round. The organization has started a demonstration farm of approximately 4 hectares to educate and train Kunya community members on healthy, practical and sustainable farming and livestock methods. We have planted different indigenous vegetables and tubers as follows:
- Cowpeas
- Spider plant
- Slenderleaf (Mito!!!!)
- African nightshades
- Jute mallow
- Vegetable amaranthus
- Pumpkin and leaves
- African kale
- Cassava
- Sweet potatoes
- Green bananas
Despite the potentials and value of African indigenous vegetables and crops, communities in Western Kenya continue to languish in poverty and face social and economic devastations.
In
May 2004, Mama Na Dada received a donation of US$5,000 to purchase
hybrid goats for the purpose of producing milk. We have also recently
begun to raise rabbits and chickens. All these provide an incredible
nutritional boon to the sustaining nutritional meals we provide to
the Circle of Hope Daycare Center children.
Income from the surplus supplements support for the center.
At first reluctant to deal with
an animal never previously residing in their village, many villagers
have entered the project and are now engaged in animal husbandry practices. They
are excited and proud of their new livestock projects, and securely
hopeful in the future nutrition of their families.
Your donation will provide a chicken, a goat, a rabbit or a group of
vegetable seeds to a willing villager so that they can better feed
their families. To make a much needed donation, visit Global
Partners for Development. In the donation area, you can
specify how you would like your donation to be used.