Time goes by and it´s been already a month in Malawi. Life isn’t too bad here. The usual African culture takes a bit of time to adapt but I think I´m getting there quite well. I really like Mzuzu, people are friendly and helpful. Everyday basics, shopping and going around in town is not that stressful at all, no one really bothers us and the sellers in the market don´t try to cheat you too much. Am sure there´s a little “rich white people” extra added to the prices in the market but it can be solved fast after some chitumbuka greetings and mention about volunteering.
Last week was the first full week of work. We went around to get introduced to a lot of people we are going to work with. There´s a lot of activities going on with the farmers and I am getting to understand that we just need to motivate the farmer´s enough to care for their animals and understand the good profit that can be achieved with good farming.
On Wednesday I went to see silage (fodder) making at Lunyangwa research station not far from Mzuzu city. Geeeesh guys… I need to tell you I don´t envy the farmers here. That´s a lot of work to do with no machines available. That is pure handwork. I felt lucky even if I had to work with that crappy old Zetor in Finland, haven´t seen any tractors around here. I heard they had one before but it was pretty useless because no one can fix it and there’s no fuel anyway. So the silage making: First you dig a big hole in the ground (can´t remember the exact measures but let’s say around 1m X 2m X 1,5m) and the ground is not the softest to dig here you know. They have chosen the grass type they use for the silage, normally a mix of 2 to 3 different types. They cut the grass first from the field and after cut it into small about 2 to 4 centimeters long. The hole will be covered with plastic and the different types of grass are pressed tightly in the hole using any available technique to press it hard like barrels for example. The reason for doing this is the dry season when there is less food for the animals. In Mzuzu farmers are quite lucky because they say it’s ever green and the dry season doesn´t really affect the grass available for the cows. But Mzuzu is also very hilly and the land is different from place to place so there are also areas which are affected by the dry season. Anyway the experiences of the silage making have been good and especially those in need of it are strongly encouraged to do it. And the farmers are really hard working people, to do this silage I tell you it is nowhere near to be an easy job to do.
Last week was the first full week of work. We went around to get introduced to a lot of people we are going to work with. There´s a lot of activities going on with the farmers and I am getting to understand that we just need to motivate the farmer´s enough to care for their animals and understand the good profit that can be achieved with good farming.
On Wednesday I went to see silage (fodder) making at Lunyangwa research station not far from Mzuzu city. Geeeesh guys… I need to tell you I don´t envy the farmers here. That´s a lot of work to do with no machines available. That is pure handwork. I felt lucky even if I had to work with that crappy old Zetor in Finland, haven´t seen any tractors around here. I heard they had one before but it was pretty useless because no one can fix it and there’s no fuel anyway. So the silage making: First you dig a big hole in the ground (can´t remember the exact measures but let’s say around 1m X 2m X 1,5m) and the ground is not the softest to dig here you know. They have chosen the grass type they use for the silage, normally a mix of 2 to 3 different types. They cut the grass first from the field and after cut it into small about 2 to 4 centimeters long. The hole will be covered with plastic and the different types of grass are pressed tightly in the hole using any available technique to press it hard like barrels for example. The reason for doing this is the dry season when there is less food for the animals. In Mzuzu farmers are quite lucky because they say it’s ever green and the dry season doesn´t really affect the grass available for the cows. But Mzuzu is also very hilly and the land is different from place to place so there are also areas which are affected by the dry season. Anyway the experiences of the silage making have been good and especially those in need of it are strongly encouraged to do it. And the farmers are really hard working people, to do this silage I tell you it is nowhere near to be an easy job to do.
Comments