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Seeing is believing Susana and Juliana have neighbouring properties in drought-prone Budekwa, Tanzania. Like other local farmers, they have heard that sorghum grows better than maize under drought conditions.
Sorghum’s resilience to drought and maize’s susceptibility were demonstrated during a recent drought. Susana had planted one acre of her land in sorghum and the remaining half an acre in maize. By the time harvest came around she gathered 10 bags from her sorghum plot, but not one of her maize plants survived. “I can’t believe I harvested so much sorghum in this harsh weather,” she said. “And if I had realised the difference between the two crops I would not have wasted my time on maize.” Juliana planted only maize on her 1½ acres. Her entire maize crop failed during the drought and she was unable to harvest anything from it. “I have learnt the hard way,” she says, “that sorghum has better resistance against drought and crop diseases than maize.” Both Susana and Juliana belong to Budekwa ADP’s farmers’ focus group and demonstrate modern agricultural practices on their farms. The ADP supports the farmers’ focus group by organising training sessions and providing improved seeds and farm implements at subsidised rates. Susana credits her crop’s success to the training she received through Budekwa ADP. She says knowing how to apply compost and use improved seeds, as well as techniques such as early planting and spacing of crops, helped her to get the best out of her land. Now that Susana’s neighbours have seen sorghum survive the drought, it will be a regular on their plates too. |
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BUDEKWA STORY ARCHIVE 2008 Snippets Better harvest, healthy family 2007 Snippets HopeChild Healthy outlook Back to school 2006 Women power Making school better 2005 Seeing is believing Outstanding Change 2004 Snippets Well done! 2003 Then and now School is important! Evaluation follow-up
Bugabo: Clinic has water at last! Bukene: Snippets Dakama: Conserving the future Ibuga: Snippets Ibwera: Snippets Iselamagazi: Good News from Iselamagazi Magugu: Snippets Nkoma: Snippets Nshamba: Snippets
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