On January 6, I will be flying to Tanzania to participate in the Farmer to Farmer program and I will be gone for 3 weeks. My assignment is to work on a 200 acre farm owned by the Diocese of Moshi. St. Amadeus boys secondary school occupies 20 acres of the farm and the other parts are leased to area farmers. The Diocese has decided to allocate 4 acres for vegetable production a move which is expected to partly address farmers' limited access to training on improved farming practices. This will be a place to conduct trials with improved seeds, irrigation techniques, and various other farming practices. Other farmers will be able to visit this farm and see the results of different farming techniques.
My task specifically will be to develop a design for the farm, put together cost estimates for starting the project, make equipment recommendations, and prepare a market survey to determine which crops can be produced and sold in order to cover the expenses of the farm. During my last trip to Tanzania in 2014, I did an intensive study of soil conditions and farming techniques in this part of Tanzania.
The Farmer to Farmer program is funded by US AID and promotes sustainable economic growth, food security, and agricultural development worldwide. In East Africa, the program is operated by Catholic Relief Services and I will be working with their staff members. Please pray for my health and safety and for my family.
Reuben DeMaster
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