Tim Dolan, Sibley County Extension Educator

June 23, 2007

Last fall, I traveled abroad to consult on a “Farmer to Farmer Program” in Zambia (a landlocked country in southern Africa) through Land O’Lakes, Inc. It has since been titled “The John Ogonowski Farmer to Farmer Program.” John Ogonowski was the pilot on American Airlines Flight 11 to Los Angeles that was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City on 9/11/2001. He is remembered for his generous efforts on behalf of farming in Massachusetts, and particularly for immigrant farmers from Cambodia whom he assisted as part of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (NENSFP), a project of Tufts University, funded by the USDA. John became involved with this project at its very inception over three years prior when Paul Fischer of the Farm Service Agency in Westford, MA, contacted him looking for land to make available for Southeast Asian families living in nearby Lowell who wanted to farm. You can read more about his efforts at http://nutrition.tufts.edu/consumer/feature/ogonowski.html.

My assignment in Zambia was to work with small holding farmers and the people that worked with them – the Extension camp officers. It was a train-the-trainer program in that I would help train the officers who, in turn, would provide the information to the farm families or producer groups. The first week there I spent in the field observing what was being done and the presentations given by the camp officers. Most of these camp officers want to do well, but are limited by their level of education.With one full week of training in a retreat type setting there was a good intense atmosphere.

This program was set up with groups of farm families that had small farms, most of them 20 acres or less. They had to have the ability to grow crops that they could store for the dry season and sustain a dairy cow; yes – just one cow. They also needed a shelter (barn) for the animal for protection from the hot sun.These were hand hewn pole barns with thatched roofs and no sides, just fenced in to contain the cow. The barns were actually quite comfortable temperature wise for the cows.

The overwhelming challenge in Zambia is keeping the cows alive since there are many diseases that exist in such a climate. My charge was to present Extension methods that would aid in this effort. I presented the idea of protocols and then let the farmers initiate the lists they needed for animal health, feedstuffs and preparation, milking routines and mastitis prevention. We also looked at the steps and key points involved to implement a plan to make these things happen. The group rallied together and outlined a timeline and process in order to accomplish their goals in a proactive fashion. In May, I returned to Zambia for my second visit. Since last fall, the farm families have made serious efforts to put many of the protocols we outlined in place and into practice.

Photo 1 shows me pedaling on a treadle pump used to move water to a livestock tank for cattle to drink. They also use these pumps now to irrigate a small parcel of land for both cattle and human food.

Small holding farmers deliver milk morning and night to a collection center using a bicycle with a small milk can tied on the back. A hole in the ground is used to form a bale of hay. Twine is laid first, then the hole is filled with hay. They step it down to put some tension on it and then tie it up; behold – a bale of hay! Velvet beans are raised, harvested and then dried in the yard before they are stored for the dry season.

In photo 2, I am in front of the camp officers as we discuss a management topic. When meetings start by the position of the sun in the sky, they may not actually start on time!

There have been things I have observed and noted in Zambia that have helped me in learning more about people and what is really important. Many of the meetings I attended were under trees. Most of the people came intent to learn as well as help out in a community spirit sort of way. In one group, they even had a “celebration of thanks” type of dance for the visitor (me). They were just down home good folks. I was overcome with a desire to help out as best I could.

These are the kind of efforts that in an international arena are a way to be a good will ambassador to whoever can use and is willing to accept a helping hand.