Pilot Farmer Program Begins

I've been in Thies again since Tuesday, and will be until Saturday, for an orientation/training of Senegalese 'pilot farmers' for a new USAID/Peace Corps initiative. USAID has the money, the PC has us, to help train and support these farmers as they establish demonstration sites. Right now there are only 7 pilot farmers in Senegal, and one of them is Tumani Diamanka, Shames' counterpart and host brother in Sare Gagna. That's why I'm here, since I'm so close to Sare Gagna, and will have to work with Tumani and Shames on establishing the different agroforestry, gardening, and field crop technologies at the demo site. Then people in the area will have access to periodic trainings which Tumani will present there, a seed and seedling source, and just an idea of the possibilities. That's the plan, anyway.