| Agriculture! Agriculture! Agriculture! Once there is irrigated water available from the implementation of shallow family wells and roofwater collection system, small family garden cam be planted and this community will blossom and bloom in ways it has never known. Many of the life giving, business producing, and other self propagating benefits mentioned on our water page, would apply here. Arable Land Most of Southern Sudan, including Apuk Padoc Communities has arable land. Local and foreign food crops are grown all over the region. Traditional farmers grow maize, sorghum, innumerable kinds of vegetable and fruit crops and roots. A majority of the people in Apuk Padoc Communities also keep livestock as part of their economic system. Biggest Problem The greatest challenge is the lack of rain. Villagers rely on rain to water the crops. When there is a drought, of course, that leads to famine, causing multiple deaths. The drought that was forecast for 2008 and the famine that usually follows, came about as expected and has lasted throughout the 2009-2010 dry season. During the dry season each year the villagers normally migrate to find water thus stopping a village to truly grow and thrive. Solution The solution of irrigated water for growing crops will help transform the community's current socio/economic system and quality of life. Villages will no longer migrate after rainy season. Markets and businesses will spring up because of the availability of water and food. Disease and health issues will be cut drastically, education can thrive, and the list goes on. Shallow Wells with Simple Technology Pumps The simple technology rope and washer pumps shown in the photos accompanying this page are built from some very basic materials. Basic training goes along with the construction of these wells and pumps so homeowners can do their own maintenance. Community Workers and others interested in becoming entrepreneurs in this technology are trained and provided with start-up tools and materials to begin their own businesses, thus sustaining this valuable ecconomic resource to the community.These trained entrepreneurs will be able to repair, build and sell their own wells. Much of western technology for other deep wells built in Africa once broken does not get fixed for a very long time because of the lack of sophisticated industrialized materials and trained personnel. This causes hardships for those reliant upon the well for water.
In Bolivia this same shallow well technology has been studied and the following results were given. On a slightly inclined terrain with a very robust pump (2”) farmers were able to irrigate up to 270 meters away from the well; up to 3 acres of land; and could put 1” of water on an acre of ground each week pumping 3 hours a day. Families were able to grow crops during the dry season and quadruple their income. The same can happen in Southern Sudan. Results vary depending upon terrain, materials, climate, etc.
This Shallow Well Technology is inexpensive to implements, and depending on the location can cost less that $300 per well.
Note: Photos provided through the courtesy of Ascend Alliance. |
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