Field Work - Part 1

Earlier this year, in the peak of hot season, I spent four days in two different villages - the purpose: to observe a Fulani man from Eastern Niger teach about field work and how the villagers can increase the yield of their harvest.
The first village has received the first round of teaching (how to prune trees) and this year received the training on zai hole planting. The zai hole is a semi-circle dug into the field, with a circle dug in the middle of the curve. A tree is planted into the circle and serves two purposes - first: the tree roots serve to enrich the soil of the field; second: the trees - which are planted around the exterior ring of the field - act as a wind break, which keeps the soil from eroding in the wind.
The zai holes are four metres across the width and a two metre depth. And spaced four metres apart on the first layer to the outside of the field - the second layer to the inside of the field spaces xy-holes within the four metre gap of the first layer.

Measuring the first zai hole:

Eventually, I was entrusted with the task of tracing the semi-circle pattern into the dust (above right).  It was fun to contribute, though I could tell they were concerned with my working in the sun and heat! 

At the end of the two days, the instructor from out East told the Fulani that I "have the heart and strength of a man towards work" . . . I think that was a compliment!

And then the men started digging . . . physical labour with pick-axes, hoes and shovels . . . all at 43+ degree heat! I am impressed with their commitment to the teaching which can help move their village foward! Currently, we are working on a "model field" - land bought by the village association, land that is sun dried and never been planted - hopefully a living testament to the teaching and the difference it can bring to the land.

Moussa - one of the young committee members who can write - pacing out and diligently recording the measurements so the strategy can be duplicated in other fields:

Measuring out to the next zai holes:

Standing in the first completed zai hole:

The first night in the village, I set up my tent despite caution of possible rains - as it was not yet rainy season, I was willing to take my chance that the clouds only spelled a cool breeze and not a rain storm!  From the stories of my colleague, I know the other option is sleeping in the house, and possibly sharing a bed, with some Fulani friends!

Though I set up my tent at sunset, it seemed to still somehow retain some of the heat of the day.  But, as the clouds advented a cool breeze, I unzipped the opening of my tent at my face and managed to slip into sleep with at least a hint of coolness . . . until at 1am when I jolted awake to the sensation of something crawling on me!!

I had not pre-thought what else, besides the cool breeze, might be let in by the zipped opening of my tent door!

I quickly zipped the tent shut, sat up, and searched for my glasses and cell phone.  With the flashlight on my cell phone, I quickly started scanning the inside of the tent, wondering what all the while what I would do should I find a scorpion or snake in my tent!  With my sandals outside, I didn't have much option to kill a scorpion with - and definitely no machete with which to kill a snake. 

Finding nothing, I laid down to sleep again.  Calming my spirit with the knowledge that at least the invading critter felt more like a skitter than a slither - so at least I knew a snake was not in my tent.  But still somewhat anxious to know if I was now sharing a tent with a scorpion or spider, one poisonous indeed and the latter possibly so.

With naught else to do, I breathed a prayer for protection from my bedmate and a prayer for sleep despite the now stifling heat (for the tent would now remain firmly closed for the remainder of the night).  In the morning, as I readied for the day, I discovered my night time visitor - a spider!  Though I hate spiders (ask my dad - he has killed many a spider in my room at all hours of the night for me), I was much relieved in this occasion to find only a spider in my tent!

The second day we headed back to the field for some more teaching and then continued work on the zai hole digging. 

This day, the instructor told a fable/story in Fulfulde - a story of development and how someone can come and either teach someone how to solve their problems (cross the river of problems) or how someone can carry someone across the river.

However, should the "problem helper" have to leave mid-task, the other person is stuck in the middle of the river - their problem - with no knowledge of how to cross the river themselves.  Our team, uses this story frequently as well, because we desire to show people how to cross the river themselves - if all we do is provide the solution, they will always be stuck in the middle of their problem.




The ladies and I working on zai holes:

Tea Break:

Village Elder - observing all the work:

After two days of instruction and work - this village is off to a grand start of digging xy-holes and planting trees around the perimetre of this field . . . the Fulani instructor and I head off to another village to start another two days of training in a second village - Part 2 to come!