This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
Keur Bakary Master Farm, Nguekhokh, Department of Mbour, Thies Region, Senegal
Community Description
Keur Bakary is a small farming village 15 km north of Mbour. The Keur Bakary Master Farm is located outside of the village, serving not only the people of Keur Bakary but several surrounding villages. Master Farmer, Cheikh Dieng, does extensive work in rainy season field crops as well as dry season market gardening.
In the rainy season, Cheikh works with Peace Corps to extend improved varieties of field crops as well as improved varieties of trees. The Keur Bakery Master Farm serves as a demonstration field for the area, providing people with a space to come and see improved gardening techniques put to use. This is Cheikh’s fourth year in the Master Farm program and he has held numerous training both in and outside of the Master Farm. The Master Farm had over 120 attendees at various training in 2015 and has become a space in which community members come for guidance in agricultural techniques.
Problem Addressed
The Master Farm is currently functioning on one well and one water basin. Peace Corps has started extending Pisciculture (fish farming) in the Master Farms and only having one basin has proven to be an issue. Currently, they are using the one basin for hand watering, a pisciculture demonstration, and a drip irrigation system. Watering an entire field with one basin is labor-intensive and has kept Cheikh from producing at the full capacity of the space.
During the dry season, everything is dependent on the water source so currently only a small area of the field is being used due to lack of water. Another well was dug in 2011 but had gone dry and another basin was built but it needs to be repaired.
Project Description
The goal of this project is to repair one existing water basin, to repair one existing well, to purchase a pump, to construct two additional water basins and to connect the basins with underground piping to increase efficiency and reduce water loss.
The Master Farm program is working on expanding its work in pisciculture and this project will help with that expansion, as well as greatly increase the farmer’s capacity to grow food in the area, increasing food security.
The basin will be repaired and the new basins constructed by a local mason and the well will be deepened. The piping system will be installed by Cheikh and some of the workers at the field.
Water Charity funds will pay for the materials as well as some of the labor for the project.
Project Impact
150 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Mallory Ross
Monitoring and Maintenance
Currently, the lack of water is limiting the amount the farm is producing. The success of the project will be monitored, and demonstrated by an increase in the production from the farm. Monitoring will be done by Mallory and continued by subsequent PCVs who serve in the community. The Master Farm program’s annual survey will help in the collection of this data.
Comments
Cheikh is an extremely reliable work partner and spends his time helping those in his community and surrounding communities. The Master Farm program has helped him gain confidence in his teaching ability and he truly serves as a resource to the area. He is always looking for teaching opportunities and is passionate about being sustainable in the work. This project will help him continue to teach others in improved gardening techniques as well as provide more food security for the area during the dry season.
Fundraising Target
$1,500
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
Donations Collected to Date
$0
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights” if that is something you would like.
Dollar Amount Needed
$1,500
