THANK GOODNESS MOST OF US HAVE NEVER HAD TO RELY ON OUR GARDENING SKILLS TO FEED OUR FAMILY…
but for developing countries, this isn’t the case!
WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SMALL VILLAGE, LIKE SOLÉ OR KORONDO,
you will most likely pass numerous little farms. Usually located around a 20-30 minutes walk away from the main village, these farms produce cassava, millet, corn, rice, squashes, sorghum, and peanuts. Imagine the pressure these villagers feel as 75% of them rely on these farms to feed their families.
THE VILLAGE MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING OUT THE DENSE VEGETATION
in order to create space for these farms. Once their work is completed, the women take over by tending to the crop and livestock. Pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, and cattle are all common, with tilapia and other river fish bred in ponds used to supplement their diet.
ALTHOUGH WATER IS PLENTIFUL IN THE SOUTHERN RAINFORESTS OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC,
clean water is not. Don’t get us wrong, there is clean water in the ground below these villages but they have no way to access it on their own. Consuming dirty water creates a high likelihood of contamination or parasites in the waterways, which can be devastating to a community. A village weakened by a waterborne illness will be unable to fish, farm, or hunt for food. The poverty cycle is very real for those who are living without access to clean water.
