The community gardens will encompass a vegetable-growing project where local farmers will work on allocated plots. We have identified a fertile section of 5H that will be equipped with a TIPA type irrigation system.  This will enable year-round production, adding a significant source of income to the farmers as they will be able to produce “out of season” produce which can be sold at a much higher price with increased profit margins.  Each farmer will be supplied with seeds, tools, fertilizers, phyto-sanitary products and water. The production is sold at market price with benefits being divided between the project and the farmers. This kind of work organization has proved efficient in other projects in Senegal. It helps maintain farmers in the villages during the dry season and can be very beneficial for them if they work diligently on their plot.   We are also exploring and researching the benefits and process of becoming certified as organic here in Senegal.  We are well aware of the obvious benefits of organic farming as it relates to environment, personal health, and the positive example we can demonstrate to the communities;  it is the financial and sustainability issues that will need further examination.

Furthermore, students at the leadership school will each have a plot that they will farm as a means to reimburse their tuition fees and apply in a practical sense the knowledge they have gained.

In another area of Beer-Sheba, we plan on developing an orchard project that will also have automatic drip-irrigation, supplied with water from the retaining pond.  The pond/reservoir is capable of holding 5000 m³, and fills up naturally in the rainy season with only 2-3 rains.  Mangoes, citrus, papaya, and grapefruit all grow well in Senegal and it will add another useful component to the Project as a whole.  We are exploring ways of increasing the economic value of the fruit crops through value-added processes.  Once processed, these products will be sold not only at our retail location in Sandiara, but marketed on a larger scale throughout Senegal.