Women's Agricultural Project
Casamance is a low-lying and hot region of Senegal where the economy relies largely on rice and other agricultural produce. There is considerable unemployment and poverty in the region.
In parts of the region women group together to grow produce which they then sell to raise additional income for their family -- a husband's income is often insufficient. Unfortunately, there is often little fertile land spare and on what land is available productivity is low due to a lack of basic tools and suitable seeds.
Two projects MH were able to support are the Daroul Khairy Village Women's Garden Project and Kataba Women's Garden Project, both in Casamance. As part of the scheme MH Senegal acquired land for use by the garden projects, purchased and supplied tools, and sourced seeds suitable for the climate and land.
Prior to the scheme the women were digging the land with their hands as they had no tools -- not even a spade or watering can! Ousman Bojang, MH Senegal Coordinator comments:
"The donation of land and garden tools were timely and excellent -- they were received at a time when the women working in these gardens were desperately in need of tools to make their work effective and smooth.
"There were few garden tools the women were using before the arrival of the tool kits: no proper watering cans, no garden hand forks to turn the garden beds and mix manure with sand (at the time they'd use a stick to do the mixing), no rakes, spades, etc.
"The availability of these tools will motivate other women to join the present ones and will also encourage the present women in these gardens to devote more time in horticulture and increase their activities and production.
"The women recipients of the garden tools and kits were very pleased and expressed their duas, thanks and appreciation to the brother and sister donors."
As the pictures below show, since planting the garden has proven to be extremely fertile and has provided a much needed source of income for the local women.
Pictures of the Garden Projects
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