The attached paper describes the introduction of sun flower growing in the rural area of Macha, in Zambia's Southern Province, as a direct result of the availability of Internet.
“Innovations due to the introduction of internet at Macha has continued and many people have been motivated to plant sunflower in areas where they never were planted. Even in areas far from Vision Community Center - where people can access internet knowledge – innovation has continued, with information now reaching the illiterates and the disadvantaged on how to grow sunflowers.
The year 2007 has been another productive year, though rains were scarce in the area with the little drops received. However sunflowers were still able to grow.
PREPARATION At the start of the rain season in November 2006, I did the first plowing to drain and soften the soils to prepare it for planting.
This year in January 2007, I planted a 25 kilogram of sunflower seeds, using about three hectares of land, using oxen also utilising the same field I had planted last year. Applying the principles I got from the internet, I spaced my seeds 30 centimeters apart upon planting. After four days of planting I looked and seeing the shootings was pleasing!
After one month, I hired seven women who tirelessly worked to remove weeds. These women work from 07.00 hours in the morning till 12.00 hours in the afternoon, that is five hours per day, with a piecework remunration of K 3,000. These women also accepted to be paid in kind, for example pay in maize equivalent to K 3,000. This is helpful for most families to raise their household income since money is difficult to find.
For example this year, four women worked to fund raise money for their school going children.
Every farming season, weeding takes place twice before the harvesting time comes. On weeding alone I spent about K360, 000 for the year 2007
HARVESTING Just after the rain season in April 2007, I hired the same seven women for harvesting and transporting the seeds from my field using an ox-cart. I had to pay K 15,000 for hiring the ox-cart for transportation of seeds. The harvest was good, I managed to get 35 times 50 kilograms of seeds. Expense for harvesting labour was K 195,000.
PRESSING It seems that my seeds this year had a higher oil content compared to last year harvest. 20 Kilograms of seed gave me 3.25 liters of oil. After pressing all the the seeds I got about 341 liters of oil. Sold in quantities of 750ml, and equivalent value of 10 kilograms of maize, this gave me 60 bags by 50 kilograms of maize seeds. After pressing the sunflower, I use the cake for feeding my livestock.
I did not press all the seeds; I reserved an amount to pay for the pressing machine which I hired. This year, I did not sell the maize. I barthered the maize for sheep, which is an other new innovation in Macha area. One sheep was equivalent to 10 bags by 50 kgs of maize, which includes transport to bring the sheep. I bought four sheep.
The remaining maize seed will be used for feeding my livestock, in addition to the cake remaining.
EXAMPLES FOLLOWED This year a number of people followed my example. Among these is Justin Milandu, a young man with a disability. He also planted sunflowers. Although this young man has only one leg but he got two time 50 kilograms of seeds, which is really amazing! This year about seven more people that I know about planted sunflower .Collectivelym, we are now encouraging women to plant sunflower next season.
RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY Since the year 2006, the community has highly appreciated the idea of sunflowers farming. It has been easy for them bather the produce, since actual money seems to be a barrier in rural communities. Through this, people have realized the value of internet as all the principles applied in sunflower growing have been retrieved from the internet and then contextualized.
As a farmer, internet has changed my way of life in the rural area of Macha, because people can do wonders/ miracles through internet. Our economy as a rural area has greatly improved. Internet has empowered us in rural areas and made to become masters of our own destiny!"
The attached paper describes the introduction of sun flower growing in the rural area of Macha, in Zambia's Southern Province, as a direct result of the availability of Internet.
Results of sunflower production in 2007
Fred Mweetwa sent me the following report:
“Innovations due to the introduction of internet at Macha has continued and many people have been motivated to plant sunflower in areas where they never were planted. Even in areas far from Vision Community Center - where people can access internet knowledge – innovation has continued, with information now reaching the illiterates and the disadvantaged on how to grow sunflowers.
The year 2007 has been another productive year, though rains were scarce in the area with the little drops received. However sunflowers were still able to grow.
PREPARATION
At the start of the rain season in November 2006, I did the first plowing to drain and soften the soils to prepare it for planting.
This year in January 2007, I planted a 25 kilogram of sunflower seeds, using about three hectares of land, using oxen also utilising the same field I had planted last year. Applying the principles I got from the internet, I spaced my seeds 30 centimeters apart upon planting. After four days of planting I looked and seeing the shootings was pleasing!
After one month, I hired seven women who tirelessly worked to remove weeds. These women work from 07.00 hours in the morning till 12.00 hours in the afternoon, that is five hours per day, with a piecework remunration of K 3,000. These women also accepted to be paid in kind, for example pay in maize equivalent to K 3,000. This is helpful for most families to raise their household income since money is difficult to find.
For example this year, four women worked to fund raise money for their school going children.
Every farming season, weeding takes place twice before the harvesting time comes. On weeding alone I spent about K360, 000 for the year 2007
HARVESTING
Just after the rain season in April 2007, I hired the same seven women for harvesting and transporting the seeds from my field using an ox-cart. I had to pay K 15,000 for hiring the ox-cart for transportation of seeds. The harvest was good, I managed to get 35 times 50 kilograms of seeds. Expense for harvesting labour was K 195,000.
PRESSING
It seems that my seeds this year had a higher oil content compared to last year harvest. 20 Kilograms of seed gave me 3.25 liters of oil. After pressing all the the seeds I got about 341 liters of oil. Sold in quantities of 750ml, and equivalent value of 10 kilograms of maize, this gave me 60 bags by 50 kilograms of maize seeds. After pressing the sunflower, I use the cake for feeding my livestock.
I did not press all the seeds; I reserved an amount to pay for the pressing machine which I hired.
This year, I did not sell the maize. I barthered the maize for sheep, which is an other new innovation in Macha area. One sheep was equivalent to 10 bags by 50 kgs of maize, which includes transport to bring the sheep. I bought four sheep.
The remaining maize seed will be used for feeding my livestock, in addition to the cake remaining.
EXAMPLES FOLLOWED
This year a number of people followed my example. Among these is Justin Milandu, a young man with a disability. He also planted sunflowers. Although this young man has only one leg but he got two time 50 kilograms of seeds, which is really amazing! This year about seven more people that I know about planted sunflower .Collectivelym, we are now encouraging women to plant sunflower next season.
RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY
Since the year 2006, the community has highly appreciated the idea of sunflowers farming. It has been easy for them bather the produce, since actual money seems to be a barrier in rural communities. Through this, people have realized the value of internet as all the principles applied in sunflower growing have been retrieved from the internet and then contextualized.
As a farmer, internet has changed my way of life in the rural area of Macha, because people can do wonders/ miracles through internet. Our economy as a rural area has greatly improved. Internet has empowered us in rural areas and made to become masters of our own destiny!"