Agriculture
One of the most significant contributions to peace is food diversification. For the Pokots, calories come virtually from meat, milk and blood alone. These foods are low in vitamins A, C, and in fiber. Food diversification will stabilize the community because it will allow children to stay longer in one location, improving their options for going to school compared to herding goats through the desert. Grafted, beautiful mango trees can be purchased for $1.60 each in Marigat, and will begin bearing fruit within 2-3 years. They will, of course, need to be protected from the goats and cows, and they will need water. That's why the water development project is connected to agriculture and education. The mango trees will grow in desert climates, and are tremendously productive, bearing up to 2000 fruit per tree when mature, each weighing up to 2 kgs. The fruit is excellent and can be dried locally for sale at local and distant markets. Income generation is an important part of improving the lives of these people and building community. It makes the project self-sustaining. Our proposal is to purchase the trees, ask local people to care for them, and they will get 90% of the income. 10% will come to us, and will be put back into the project.
In addition to mangoes, we are growing a few citrus and papaya trees to see what will grow in this environment. Papayas cost about $0.25 per tree and citrus about $0.75 per tree. Once we know what will flourish, we will make a bigger investment and begin planting in some of the conflict areas once water is available.
Some of the water sources are salty, so plants that thrive in salty water will be used (asparagus, beets, some beans, some grasses, palm trees). Depending on the salinity, our crop choices will be more or less limited. Long term, our goal is income generation and sustainability for the community, with a secondary goal of improving children's opportunities for education.
In addition to mangoes, we are growing a few citrus and papaya trees to see what will grow in this environment. Papayas cost about $0.25 per tree and citrus about $0.75 per tree. Once we know what will flourish, we will make a bigger investment and begin planting in some of the conflict areas once water is available.
Some of the water sources are salty, so plants that thrive in salty water will be used (asparagus, beets, some beans, some grasses, palm trees). Depending on the salinity, our crop choices will be more or less limited. Long term, our goal is income generation and sustainability for the community, with a secondary goal of improving children's opportunities for education.
