| Update Farm Project Bakindiki Koto October 2009 |
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Time for another update about the activities on Jinack, The Gambia, directed towards the sponsors of the project and everyone who is concerned with the benefit of Jinack.
The Clinic After the clinic had opened its doors for patients in July 2009, the clinic was officially inaugurated on Saturday 17th October 2009, which was celebrated with a performance of the famous musician Jaliba Kuyateh and the Kumareh Band. Also, two Gambian newspapers reported about the inauguration, read more on http://www.2bab.org/index.php/Articles%202bab%20in%20the%20press. More than 2.000 patients have already received treatment in the clinic and many babies have been delivered in the safe conditions of the hospital.
Photo: the welcome on Jinack
Movie: a warm welcome on our arrival on Jinack
To end the dependency on foreign aid, plans were made to generate a source of income for the inhabitants of the island from the start of the project. These plans are now put into practice with the recently started Farm Project.
The Farm Project Bakindiki Koto To start with, two pilot projects were launched, involving the purchase of 320 kilos first-class Nerica rice and fertilizer. Motivated by our input the Department of State for Agriculture of The Gambia decided to supply a Power Tiller to the project. This is put at the disposal of the women on the island, who won't be charged a contribution to cover ‘operator’ and gasoline expenses until after harvesting the crops. The rice was sown in July and has prospered wonderfully. Furthermore, on the mainland of Bakindiki Koto the inhabitants prepared 3 hectares of land for farming. 2BAB Foundation covered the expenses for seed and fertilizer and the corn is prospering very good as well.
Photo: the corn field We have contracted one employee for the project on a permanent basis and hired two temporary workers to watch over the corn fields (especially for crop raiding monkeys). The total surface area of land that is put at the project's disposal is 15 hectares. This land will be cultivated as follows: 5 hectares of Rain Fall crops (corn, peanuts, beans, etc.) 5 hectares of vegetable crops (onions, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, etc.) 5 hectares of fruit (banana, papaya, mandarin, mango, etc.) This land will be cultivated at cautious pace. The inhabitants have many years of experience in the growing of rice, corn and a variety of vegetable crops, but they always lacked the necessary resources to buy seed, fertilizer and not in the least to hire agricultural machinery. Our plan includes the fencing of 5 hectares of land, sinking a well, supplying machinery, means of transportation, seed and fertilizer. Six young persons will be taken on permanently in the course of 2010. Two of them have already received eight months of training on a poultry farm and one is being trained as a tractor driver. The water will be pumped by a solar powered borehole installation that will irrigate up to 33 hectares of fruit and vegetable crops. The members of the Kutejumbulu women group will assist in weeding and harvesting. Besides the immediate advantages on the short term, the long term purpose of the project is that the local population will maintain the clinic, ambulance, and the school, which is now sponsored. The final aim is that approximately 20 to 25 young persons will be hired permanently, that the food shortage will come to an end within 7 years and the creation of a crop and poultry farming company that will comprise 15 hectares of land. This update as well as the coming updates are published on a new page on our website under Farm Project Bakindiki Koto, http://www.2bab.org/index.php/Farm%20Project%20Bakindiki%20Koto%20English.
"This project is conducted in cooperation with the National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development." 2BaB Foundation is more than willing to draw your attention to the website www.ncdo.nl , which includes information about the United Nation´s millennium development goals. 2BaB Foundation does not just commit itself to the United Nation´s Millennium Development Goals (http://mdgs.un.org/), we want to be active in the realization of all eight goals. Besides health care and education, projects aimed at the achievement of the other goals will be developed. The first preparations for these coming projects have already been made: rice seed has been purchased and land for growing maize crops has been appointed. Also, a project for poultry farming is being prepared. Of course we will regularly update you about all new developments. Only the realization of the Millennium Goals will significantly improve the living standards on Jinack. If you are not a sponsor of 2BaB Foundation, we would very much appreciate your donation on bank account number 26.04.53.315 of Van Lanschot in Almere. We guarantee for the full 100% that all donations will be directly for the benefit of the project. All administrative and travel expenses are paid for out of our own pockets. For more information please refer to Contributions and donations are more than welcome.
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