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Saving the Oil Palm
Irrigation Demonstration - in Oil Palm Seedlings Nursery
Pictured is a 30 plus old oil palm grove. It is
suffering from the Fusarium disease. In a decade unless the dying trees are
replaced with the hybrid seedlings demand will fail and the lost income from
the oil palm will impact the local economy. It is estimated that 40 oil palm
nurseries are needed to meet this demand.
Project location is in Foya District, Lofa County,
Liberia. Foya is located 15 Km from the Guinea and Sierra Leone border. In
addition to the challenge of the travel distance over 440 Km dirt road,
material for the demonstration was limited to using what could be found
locally. Bring in irrigation supplies was felt to be too costly. The
alternative plumbing supplies were obtained from building suppliers in
Monrovia, Gabogia and Foya. The services of a blacksmith, carpenter and farm
labors were used to build the system. Project sponsor Group for Unity
Development was outstanding. Its leadership’s communication was good throughout
membership. Location of the GUD nursery was good. They dug a working well. The
host Winrock International through the USAID Small Holders Oil Palm Support
(SHOPS) program developed a functional extension program that included field
agents, plat protection technicians and agronomist serving up to 40 projects to
restore the oil palm industry. First the SHOPS program focused on the value
chain limiting factor of kernel processing. The civil war looters had destroyed
the oil palm processing factories which the kernel processers replaced. Next
was a foot power water pump introduced for small farmers and the introduction
of hybrid oil palm seedlings to start local nurseries to support the operations
to replace their dying oil palm groves.
Providing low cost water to these nurseries was the project.
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They Built It
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| Group for Unity Development |
The purpose of this paper is to describe the method used
and results of a small irrigation demonstration project. However the real story
should be about the people that made the project a success and will be
responsible to carry out the program. The project was in Liberia, a West
African country. The people I met during the weeks of travel had as varied
backgrounds as the difference to be found between the African Atlantic coastal
tropical forests and inland savannas compared to the Ozark Mountains and the
Mississippi floodplains of Southeast Missouri.
Two men Saah Musha and Sheriff guided me on this trip
and gave critical advice. The members of the farm association Group for Unity
Development or GUD had several farmers as Robert Yowoe from Foya and labors as
David from Porlumba Poma who made important contributions to the project
development. This was important not just for their contribution, but since this
was their enterprise the operators buy in was critical.
Saah Musha is an Extension Agent for Lofa and Nimba Counties. He is not a Liberian government employee, but is employed by the Non-government Organization WINROCK. Sheriff was our driver and also adapt at building and fixing equipment used in the project. Both lived though the Liberian civil war. Saah is educated in Agro-Forestry at a Liberian technical college and did have to opportunity to put his education to work a short while before the civil war disrupted his career. His one comment was the mental waste of not being able to use his mind. Saah knew the scientific name of every tree in the Liberian forest and spoke English, French and his home Dialect Kissi. After teaching in Guinea for ten years he returned home and eventually selected for the Extension position.
Robert was the primary point of contact for the GUD. He
led the oil palm nursery workforce and led the discussion concerning management
decisions. His focus at the time of the irrigation demonstration was
determining how to reduce the labor costs and obtaining a short term loan to
have the cash for the labor during the next four months. The first of the oil
palms would be sold that summer. It was clear the GDU with his guidance had a
good grasp of the current finances. The irrigation would be something that
could improve the operation’s finances and all members were interested.
Demonstration
Involved People
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First site visit was on a Sunday afternoon with enthusiastic association members
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Local artist used for Extension Outreach to
other Nurserymen Irrigation System tasks recorded
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Several man-hours had been invested in the fall-winter
of 2012-13 preparing for the Demonstration. The GUD had established a nursery
protected with a bamboo fence and water supplied from a good well. Assessment
of the site prior by the WINROCK staff indicated a nearly level plot of land ¾
of a hector near a good road.
Since the primary objective was to demonstrate to the
other nursery operators it was suggested to have a local artist record progress
of the demonstration. Each task in the system would then be communicated
visually with an African perspective. This was important when considering the
number of difference communities, tribes and dialects across the Liberian
interior forest region.
Palm
Oil – Market Developed
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A five gallon Jug brings $35 to $50
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Hand Power Kernel Oil Press
Replaced destroyed factories
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Seedling
Nursery – Industry’s Future
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Operator looking to demonstration for guidance.
Small Operations, little understanding of fertilizer,
horticultural husbandry or
irrigation. |
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Dry season one half the year. Water carried
100 ft or more to barrel before distribution.
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Outreach
Combined with Hands On
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English official language, but several local Dialects' spoken.
Artist’s drawings to bridge communication to
Tribes. |
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Skills instruction use of tools and methods.
Project tasks in 2 hour blocks due to heat.
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Project
Concept and Water Critical
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Agriculturial Economics: Labor, Land/Water, Capital & Mgt. Enterprise’s Business Plan - Reduce labor Objective - Reduce walking to hand water and to increased number of seedlings
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| Combined Irrigation and Nursery Operation Plan with Business Plan Development to maximze resources |
Ensuring that the project fit the African enterprise
business model was an important corner stone to the approach to solve the
design problem. The GUD did have a business plan. Analysis of the plan
indicated that the cost of labor was high and warranted reducing the labor
cost. The oil palm production experts knew that husbandry of the seedling
required daily observation, control of disease and insects also require daily
observation. The industry demand will require a higher number of seedlings.
Considering these factors the GUD object was restated to state “reduction of
the walking required to water the oil palm seedlings” This approach avoided the
high cost and maintenance demanded of individual drip lines and allowed better
husbandry methods by integrating a irrigation system with the African model.
Plan
Development
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Site survey necessary to design irrigation system
due to distance and lift from well to nursery.
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Plan development requires accurate inventory of the
resource. Survey techniques were demonstrated to the GUD members. A hand level
and 100 foot tap was brought for this purpose. A survey rod was made at the
local carpenter shop from a mahogany board.
The existing nursery site was located between roads on
high ridges. The nursery water supply was at the bottom of a hill. In some
cases the water was too far vertically in elevation for the hand power pump to
pull/push the water to the nursery. In GUD’s case a faulty pump also hamper the
demonstration.
The value of having a analyzed plan before investing in
the irrigation equipment was demonstrated to the GUD members. When the other
nursery operators in other districts were shown these plans they request having
similar plans developed.
Skills
and Hand Labor
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Only one individual in ten would have the correct skill. Learning
experience for group.
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Treadle Pump ‘s 2nd trial run Hand labor limited efficiency
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Installing an irrigation system requires construction
skills. Accurate measurements, square and smooth cut of the pipe that allow
tight fitting joints was demonstrated and practices by the GUD members. There
was one skilled carpenter, blacksmith and assigned secretary educated in
bookkeeping to help the GUD members with the project. This core team and the
GUD labors formed the group that solved each of the installation problems
presented. The energy level of the workers was very good if employed within the
family responsibilities demands and normal meal schedules. Normally two to
three hours work days could be planned. In two cases the work was pushed from
9:00 to 1:30 to complete phases of the installation. The need was communicated
by the GUD leaderships and accepted by the enthusiastic workers. In one case a
100 CM pit was dug in one morning after the ground had been soaked by the
second trial the day prior. The heavy work required a 200 meter bamboo fence
built, a 14 foot deep and five foot diameter well was dug. The first pump
required a level platform to be build which was accomplished in one afternoon
where all GUD members both men and women participated. The GUD member proved to
be intelligent, hard working and willing to adopt new methods.
Artist
Skills and Teaching Husbandry
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Blacksmith help solve problem of connecting pipes to barrel.
Created a water tight reservoir.
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Outreach’s Motto
Care for each Seedling as you would for your Child
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Some problems required time to solve. The local material
requirement provided challenges. The African artisans had developed hand craft
skills to make what they needed. This was important. Construction of a small
water reservoir was central to the irrigation plan had to rely on a local
artisan’s handcraft skill. It was fortunate that a competent blacksmith lived
on the next ridge from the project.
Product improvement is possible when proper husbandry
techniques are followed. Fostering husbandry was the motto we encouraged the
workers to consider the seedlings needed the same care the workers would give a
child. In the past the lack of concern for the seedlings was demonstrated by
under watering, lack of fertilizer application, lack of culling disease plants
or treating for insects. Training in how to judge when the soil had adequate
moisture was part of the training. It is hoped that these husbandry techniques
are broadly adopted.
Project Quickly Brought Water to Center of Nursery
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Second Treadle Pump used this 70 gal. drum as a reservoir
to move water further up slope
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Third trial used motor pump. Instruction on
priming the Pump. Required two
days.
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Rather than spending days inventory and analysis on the
project employment of the foot power treadle pump was quickly made. By
completing the inventory and analysis in the months prior I was able to deliver
water to the lower one third of the nursery early in the demonstration. This
did give the workers encouragement and allowed for enthusiasm to carry past the
problems created by the miscalculation of the elevation that water had to be
raised. The demonstration of the motor pump quickly followed the second treadle
pump. This pump did not operate at the same capacity as the first pump, but
time was not spent on a full analysis of the cause. This process of moving past
problems kept the audience’s attention on each of the four different
demonstrations to bring water into the nursery.
Operation of the motor pump determined that it was
difficult to operate with a large crowd. The crowd size limited communication
for an operation that was more detailed and required closer coordination. On
the second day with the motor pump it was fortuity it was market day. Most of
the audience attended the market. A small crew of three went to different site
by a river to test the pump. Instruction how to prime and operate was easer
taught at this location. Then with the smaller audience the test was completed
successfully later that morning at the nursery. In the Kissi dialect it was a
“Charily Mumba Day”!
Reservoirs
used to store water
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Success – Water
in Reservoir A rented 1,000 gal. tank
reated goal to reach with business profits.
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Hand watering allow more time to inspect seedlings, reduce
overwatering and potential disease
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The 1000 gallon water tank was found in Foya was almost
serendipity event. Originally it was determined such a tank was too costly for
the scale of the operation envisioned. This was before a proper survey
inventory of the nursery had been conducted. Use of the rented large water tank
enabled the GUD members to see what a full scale operation required and could
provide the nursery. The well did have limited capacity. It could only provide
700 gallons before the water level was too low. Fortunately the well fully
recharged in just four hours. A 5,000 seedling nursery will require 1,400
gallons daily in the dry season. The GUD determined, based on the
demonstration, that a second well will be needed when they expand.
Hand watering the individual palm was the system
envisioned early I the planning stage. The concern for control of the disease
Blast guided the training not to over water with hoses, but to use buckets that
had liter marks on the bucket. An agronomist provided instruction on the
control of insects, proper mulch material to use and discarding of sick
seedlings.
Challenges
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Power outage required adapting and overcoming. Planning done
each night prior. Report was due on day returned.
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Porluma Poma farmer uses Machete ,the African multi tool
to install air vent in African reservoir |
Written reports were required by both the Host Nation
and the NGO Sponsor. Making the time to write the report after field work each
proved to be a challenge. Since Foya only had electric power after dark this
became limitation for the report development. I did move to a different guest
house which was linked to the hospital that had power four hours in the morning
and earlier in the evening. I took one morning off to work on the report after
which I was able to complete both reports in the remaining evenings. One
evening a rare thunder storm did knock the power out. I was able to use candles
to see the keyboard and complete one final design problem. Also I used the
candles when working early in the morning. This was important to prepare
designs before going to the project site.
The long term water reservoir was designed using four 70
gallon drums and it had to be designed with a motor pump that was too large for
the system. Air vents had to be cut into the top drum and additional tee-joints
added for air vents in the supply pipes. This allowed for full operation. The
pump could provide over 200 gallons of water in just three minutes. The 2,100
oil palm seedlings were given one liter of water a day. The pump which was the
smallest found by the approved dealer could provide their needs in just ten
minutes.
Future
Plans
Conservation Planning Approach
Conservation Planning Approach
The picture above shows: USDA – Conservation Planning
Nine Step Process. This is the land user’s concept of how to make a irrigation
process work for him. This is the result of the nine step planning process
close daily work with the GUD members using the conservation planning approach.
After corresponding the months prior and the ten days of
the demonstration the farmer’s irrigation plan for the 2014 nursery had
crystallized in his mind. The temporary 200 to 280 gallon four drum reservoir
would serve until a large tank could be afforded. This large tank is important
to provide backup water for the seedling nursery. The plan would be to have the
water tank full for the next day. This would allow time to repair the motor
pump when it required maintenance and to use hand power pumps as backup. In
addition four smaller water storage pits will be located in the center of the
nursery. These 4 by 4 by 4 foot pits would be lined with mud brick and
plastered with cement and have a thick concrete floor. The water tight pits
would provide 480 gallons of water to be hand bucketed and provide close water
close to
the nursery. The cost was estimated if spread over three years to cost just 10
cents per oil palm seedling. The additional costs of the supply and manifold
water lines, the valves and other irrigation material will be covered by the
increase in production. The labor saved by not needing to carry water from the
distant wells would be used to better care for the additional seedlings.
The
Team
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Volunteer, Lofa Extension Agent and
Team Driver
(GUD Secretary inspects finial reservoir) |
What will have more influence on the future of
Africa? Western farmer to farmer events
like this one coupled with guidance by our foreign ambassadors. Or will it be
the Chinese and other resource exploiters’ influence which all ready can be
seen in public buildings Chinese architectural design in the roof gables? I saw
a number of indicators of a wide variety of influencers. The strongest were
still the Africans themselves. Their ability to retain culture, language and
core values of family and religion has played an important role for generations
dealing with outsiders. This trait to adapt is a core value. One good example
was the adoption of the religious use of choirs that take traditional songs and
adapt a local message. The one dialect choir had a song about the Israelites
leaving Egypt and then the lyrics included the line “we will not return to the
plantation”. Other men said they did not want to end up working for a
plantation. This is a strong forces. But there were a large number of other
strong forces pulling the people of the continent in a tangle of different
directions.
On the plane home I had the opportunity to discuss our experiences with several people. A Belgium architect’s discussion of his work on a new building was one such indicator. He had the same opinion of the Chinese material being sold in Liberia. But he used Chinese's peasants as he called them for construction labors and had building material shipped in from Europe. In no circumstance would he use or consider training Liberian workers. If never given the chance how will the Liberians learn skills or develop value added enterprises to better market their natural resources? Other indicators included observing the large scale endeavors that failed. Across from the German mission in Foya were a dozen 20 foot containers full of several million dollars worth of agricultural equipment. These were left from a failed large scale development. The story the locals told me was the manager did not understand how to use his local labor. That he had them walk for two hours to the job site each day. Little work was ever carried out. Near the customs office on the Guinea border was several tractors just abandon by the Gadhafi regime after Libya fell. Talking with a Netherlands agriculture plant researcher for the International Tropical Institute they plan to pull back from Lofa. Her experience with the bad roads and the difficulty of working in the remote county their organization was giving up. Talking with a German agronomist she was most doubtful concerning many of the small scale endeavors, but that did to dampen her willingness to accept another private donor’s project.
Certainly any effort as I completed one should want to
see it succeed. That does not mean it is carried out as we would in America.
Our democratic system is certainly one to emulate, but not necessarily copy.
Affrication of the enterprises that this region has a economic comparative
advantage makes sense. As long as we can shape the progress for the peaceful
development in the region which does not ever require an adventurous
involvement of American servicemen, the development of a functional economic trade
partner which embraces many of the values we can support that would be the
definition of success. Yes in ten or twelve years it would be nice to see this
area again and see what suggestions were kept and how the many others were
adapted to the African way.
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