 |
Seed capital A frustrated farmer has taken advantage of a free local resource to create a niche market.
Although he had been quite successful in applying some of what he learnt, farming seemed fraught with difficulties and expense. Obed despaired of getting ahead financially until he spotted an opportunity that was literally at his feet. “One bright winter day I was sitting at home, admiring the fruit and native trees I planted during the environment project three years ago,“ says Obed. “Suddenly, I realised that all around my village there were pine seeds, which were not being used. I started collecting the seeds and some plastic sugar bags.” And so began Obed’s venture as a nurseryman. Later, during a community meeting held at the Nakonde ADP office, he asked for some polythene bags in which to sow the seeds. “In 2002, I raised about 3000 seedlings, which I sold in November for K500 (approximately NZ 18c) each. My customers even come from villages eight kilometres away, in neighbouring Tanzania. They are interested in beautifying their surroundings and homesteads, making [living] fences and growing the pine trees for timber,” says Obed. “Currently my nursery has more than 5000 tree seedlings ready for transplanting, and this year I expect to earn K2,500,000 (more than NZ$880). This is a lot of money to raise in a village, more than I can raise through farming!” |
|
NAKONDE STORY ARCHIVE 2007 Good news from Nakonde Snippets Counting down Exciting changes in Nakonde 2006 Snippets The benefit of good nutrition 2005 Snippets Land of her own Keep healthy 2004 Snippets What class! 2003 Seed capital Taking charge Nakonde newbies Last laughs A matter of health Environment follow-up 2002 Snippets Malaria Environment
Mporokoso: Community leader Siachitema: Time to know the truth
Chitalmari: Reaching out Kaliganj: Turning point Laudob: Tailor-made Sariakandi: No bride price Tarash: Extra tuition brings top results Cambodia show on map Koh Andaet: Savings scheme Oudong: Making water safe Samrong Tong: Better sanitation means better health Stong: Welcome to Stong Honduras show on map Concepcion: Changing for the better Nueva Vision: Mobilising youth Valle: Farewell to Valle India show on map Banswara: Snippets Dahod: A man with a vision Dumaria: Snippets Gajapati: Snippets Girideep: Good news from India Mayurbhanj: Snippets Mumbai West: Working woman Ratlam: Snippets Malawi show on map Blantyre Urban: Charity and Aisha Chata: Plenty to smile about Mikolongwe: Trying it out Mali show on map Koro: In their own words Togogana: Welcome to Togogana Yangasso: Time in the garden Myanmar show on map Myeik: Snippets Nicaragua show on map Aguas Azules: At the helm Tlilican: School gets new lease of life Niger show on map Chadakori: Welcome to Chadakori Goulbi N'Kaba: Successes Papua New Guinea show on map Port Moresby: Snippets Vadavada: Snippets Rwanda show on map Kabuga: Welcome to Kabuga Tubehoneza: Building a better world for children Tanzania show on map Budekwa: Snippets 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 Uganda show on map Buyamba: Taking care of your own Ngogwe: Welcome to Ngogwe Pakwach: Farewell to Puvona Panyimur: Snippets Rakai-Kooki: Cool school Vanuatu show on map Tafea: Snippets |
||||||||||||||||||
|
