Tjatile means “marriage”, and the project will have just that as a goal: an initiative in relationship with the people, to care, provide and protect, and to give a home to those in need.

Basically the idea is that we will establish a farm in the community in which we have become involved, to achieve the following:

* Provision of food.
* Job creation.
* Teaching of agricultural skills.
* Establishing a sustainable business in the community, for the people.

The farm could act as the base onto which other projects, such as a school, aids orphanage, clinic, tourism project, etc. can be added.

Such a farm will be people driven, not profit driven. This does not mean that it will not have to make a profit, it surely must, but that the profit must be ploughed back into the community.

PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

* The community in which our Help Teams have worked will be introduced to the
idea, and if they want it, and if it is feasible, a project can be started.
* All the necessary permission from government and headmen, etc. will
then be obtained.
* Funds will be raised or allocated.
* The necessary equipment will be bought and transported to the spot.
* A well-trained agriculturist will be placed on the spot to run the project.
* The community will be consulted on all decisions.
* Money will be allocated to pay for labor and all other expenses, until after the first
harvest, after which as much as possible will be paid out of the projects.
* The production of food will be the first priority.
* In some cases, more food will be produced than the immediate need, or in case of
the production of cotton, coffee or other export commodities, LHA will handle all
logistics and exports in order to get the best price.
* Practical co-operation with other Tjatile farms in the region will be a priority.
Rotary cultivation will allow the same implements, such as for example an
expensive combine harvester, to work for more projects than one.
* Where possible, seed, fertilizer and equipment will be bought corporately in order
to get a better price.

RESEARCH

Research will be done before anything gets started. Research is cheaper than mistakes. Statistics can be obtained from the local Dept. of Agriculture, the UN and other agricultural initiatives in a country, such as the following:

* The best crop for the need.
* The best crop for the area.
* The terrain, for instance, is it in a flood plain, the depth of the water table, type of
soil, frost or no frost, etc.
* The accessibility of the area in the rainy season.
* Diseases in the area.
* How to keep stock or hippos out of the crops.
* Availability of labor.

EQUIPMENT

Equipment differs according to the circumstances, the crop and the size of the farm. Basic things that we need are:

* Accommodation for manager and staff if they don’t live nearby.
* Transport e.g. pick-up trucks, big truck, trailers, etc.
* Tractors and other appropriate implements.
* Water supply if irrigation is needed, as well as for household purposes.
* A warehouse for equipment.
* Fencing.
* Workshop for maintenance.
* Tools.
* Power supply.
* Office and its equipment.

Africa has tremendous opportunities for agriculture, and the people can benefit hugely from a properly managed farm in their region. More than food, jobs, training and foreign income from export, a Tjatile farm will also serve as a base for other upliftment initiatives, such as clinics, schools, orphanages or feeding programs, or whatever the need of the community may be.