Senegal
September 14, 2011
Food Security Weekly Update
Agro-forestry director Demba Sidibe, Training Associate Arfang Sadio, and third year Peace Corps volunteer Darren Watkins completed a mission last week out planting mango and citrus trees at all Master Farmer sites in Senegal.
Agriculture APCD Famara Massaly and USAID employee Megan Willis are currently on a 9 day mission throughout Senegal. They will visit food security projects and Master Farmer sites to check the progress of volunteers and their work partners.
Peace Corps’ 23 Master Farmers are currently managing the out planting of fruit trees and field crop demos within their fields. Field crop demos consist of conservation farming vs. traditional tillage with corn, thinning demos with sorghum and millet, pest control demos with beans, and the promotion of SRI rice. As the rainy season progresses, farmers will begin preparing ground for dry season gardening demo beds.
Hailey Wright, a third year PCV with Helen Keller International, is working with a community group in Guediaweye, Dakar to develop a homestead micro gardening initiative that will supplement the community #nutrition program. Wright established a community training garden at the local nutrition post with SPA grant funds. After an initial micro gardening training with the women's group, she is currently working to support each participant in developing their own micro garden at their homes. Nutrition education sessions are also being held to discuss the importance of consuming nutrient rich foods and a diverse diet.
The Kedougou Summer Camp, held in Dindefello for the third year in a row, welcomed 76 campers from September 5th to September 15th. 15 Volunteers, Association de Development Durable de Kedougou (ADDK), and Trees for the Future led hands-on programming about tree nurseries, grafting, out planting, gardening and composting.
On Saturday September 17th, 30 Peace Corps volunteers will gather in the community of Toubacouta to promote the reforestation of the endangered mangrove ecosystem. PCV Jamie Whitehead organized this reforestation event in conjunction with the Oceanium. Volunteers will teach community members about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem and together they will plant several thousand seedlings within the mangroves outside of Toubacouta.
