Lead farmer Frederick Msiska from Malawi. Fredrick (the ‘Doctor of Crops’) is a very dynamic and innovative farmer who has adopted practically every sustainable agriculture practice known! He gave us a tour of his fields which included 9000+ maize plants and 3000+ groundnuts all looking very healthy and grown with … Read More
Read MoreA Couple of Model Farmers
Farmers Laurence and Margaret Malikita are an inspiration to their friends and neighbours in Libwalo village, in Malawi’s Nsondole Project area, outside Zomba. They are members of the Libwalo Village Farmers Club established by Self Help in the late 1990’s to promote improved irrigation and farming practices in the community. Laurence … Read More
Read MoreSupporting Enterprise in Ethiopia
When Mestawet Negash separated from her husband three years ago, it was necessary for her to start earning money to support her young family. She recently joined the new savings and credit co-operative (SACCO), established by Self Help Africa at Alem Tena, and took out a loan with which to … Read More
Read MoreSave, Borrow, Thrive…The Ethiopian Way
Western economies are still trying to recover from the credit crisis of 2007/08. A mountain of debt accumulated by runaway banks and inflated property deals almost overwhelmed the entire banking system. 6 years later and western taxpayers are still picking up the tab with huge outstanding bills. Imagine now a … Read More
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Almaz: Carer, Provider, Entrepreneur
Almaz Tadsaa stands in her one and half hectare field of malt barley in the Oromia region of Ethiopia…Demand for the crop has been growing locally, including from a malting factory which is not too far away, further down the valley. With funding from Irish Aid, Self Help Africa is … Read More
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name?
The challenges facing those engaged in the development process can be many and varied –as is illustrated by one particular case which confronted Self Help Africa extension staff in the Lare District of Kenya, when they began their work.The challenge presented itself when Self Help began working with a group … Read More
Read MoreDiversification of Crops Paying Dividends
For many smallholder farmers in the Rift Valley, tilling the soil is more necessity than calling, more occupation than interest. They do it to eat, to support a family, to survive. They usually do it also to grow maize. But to John Mwangi, farming has always been more than that; … Read More
Read MoreMarket Gardening in Burkina Faso
Villagers in Dassui are so pleased with the market gardening project that they started in early 2009, that they already want to extend the project, and bring more of their neighbours into the scheme. 41 villagers are members of the ‘Wenden Kondo’ (‘God Will Provide) group, and have produced harvests … Read More
Read MoreFuel Efficient Mud Stoves
The members of Malagu village womens group don’t make money from the mud stoves that they manufacture and the demonstration workshops they hold in neighbouring villages.But they do pass on the equipment and knowledge in exchange for grain, and sometimes poultry, says Yatouti Sinhari of Self Help Africa’s local partners … Read More
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