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Jill Cloutier interviews Kudzanai
"Lewis" Mashingaidze, Director of
the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre in Zimbabwe,
established in 1988,
one of the oldest permaculture centers in Africa.
Located outside of the city of Harare, Fambidzanai Permaculture is a
training center involved in garden programs, food security, and
sustainable land use parctices. Lewis was one of the Africans
attending the recent International Permaculture
Convergence in Brazil
(www.ipc8.org),
making with the other African delegates attending, the successful bid to
bring the next convergence to Africa in 2009.
Lewis and others hope to make this convergence encompass the whole
continent, by training participants from across Africa and increasing the
number of African countries who are practicing Permaculture, and improve
Africa’s involvement in the forthcoming International Permaculture
Convergence (IPC9).
<<<
Details for Lewis & Fambidzanai Permaculture
Centre in Zimbabwe are found below, with information on how to help fund
and assist if interested.
Contact info
Kudzanai Lewis Mashingaidze (Director)
Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre
P O Box CY301, Causeway Harare, Zimbabwe
Tell: +263-04-336151/303188 or +26391805929
Email:
fambidza@yahoo.com
Donations
Banking
details:
We recommend that funding partners route their grants through our Zambia
Account with the details below:
Account Name: Pelum Association Rd-Fambidzanai
Bank Name: Standard
Chartered bank Box 320362 Lusaka Zambia
Branch:
Manda
Hill
Type of
Account: Special
current
Swift Code:
SCBL2MLX
Account Number: 8700220448900
Project
Goal: To
increase Permaculture intervention across Africa through training in a
Permaculture Design Course for regional participants.
Project
Purpose: To
train participants from across Africa in a bid to increase the number of
African countries who are practicing Permaculture and also improve
Africa’s involvement in the forthcoming International Permaculture
Convergence (IPC9)
www.ipc9.org
Project Beneficiaries: For first PDC course
Sept/Oct 2007 At least three (3) participants from the
following Central and Southern African countries: Mozambique; South
Africa; Zimbabwe; Botswana; Swaziland; Lesotho; Namibia; Tanzania;
Malawi: Zambia.
Strategic Objectives
Training of smallholder farmers, CBO’s, youth
groups, government extension workers, and development workers in
different levels of Permaculture course.
Demonstrating sustainable methodologies of farming to resource poor
farmers as well as Permaculture enthusiasts.
Improving the livelihoods of vulnerable communities through market access
of organic agricultural products in order to enhance economic
viability.
Creating ties with communities, sister organizations, as well as other
NGOs that work in the same communities as ours, so as to provide best
practice methods of development.
To reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS and Gender imbalances on resource poor
farmers.
Vision
We envisage Prosperous, self-sustainable, food
secure and healthy communities practicing environmental friendly
Permaculture systems.
Mission
Our mission is to teach and demonstrate relevant
skills and knowledge to restore people’s confidence in their ability to
produce off land while still working creatively in harmony with
nature.
Outreach Concept
The main thrust of this concept is to bring
sustainable agriculture and Permaculture as a reality on the ground in
the harsh conditions of rural Zimbabwe and Africa. Evidence suggests that
most people living in marginalized rural communities are resource poor,
and are living in areas that are characterized by
by unfertile soil, erratic rainfall and insecure food prospects.
Permaculture thus provides a solution to the problem of expensive
agrochemicals, which hinder subsistence agriculture. Permaculture is a
sustainable method of farming which focuses only on organic principles
and the use of locally available resources. One of the principles of
Permaculture is the marketing and selling of organic produce in order to
improve economic viability. Thus in our projects, economic growth
through marketing and sharing of organic produce is one of our statutes.
Above all, our main thrust is to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable
communities in promoting food security and also in improving the economic
standards of smallholder farmers. As a result of this concept, all of our
projects focus on outcomes that result in positive behaviour change and
holistic development for our project beneficiaries.
Introduction and Background To The Project
Permaculture and sustainable agriculture in Africa
have been dynamic concepts which have been discussed at large but have
not been braced by many of the continent’s inhabitants. It is without
doubt that it is one of Africa’s solutions towards better livelihoods and
most actors in development work, in governments and the private sectors
have advocated for the practice and application of Permaculture
principles. More than often African countries have been practicing these
principles through default measures which have been embedded in
traditional agricultural practices. Despite this development, many
African countries have Permaculture enthusiasts who are practicing
Permaculture interventions but these people are sprouted randomly across
the continent, with only a few organizations being recognized along
international circles. In this respect, Africa has received the news of
the coming of the Ninth International Permaculture Convergence (IPC9) to
Africa with great optimism. The IPC presents tremendous opportunities for
African Permaculture stakeholders to discuss Permaculture issues among
themselves and with the other stakeholders across the world. Thus
positive changes in terms of Permaculture awareness and implementation
are set for Africa after hosting the IPC9 so much that there is urgent
need for countries to fully participate in this convergence.
Statement Of The Problem/Problem Analysis
In the light of the above context outlined in the
introduction, it has been realized that there are very few people in
Africa who hold any recognized Permaculture certificates, yet having a
Permaculture certificate is a pre-requisite for attending the IPC. More
over it has also been realized that Africa is currently facing
environmental problems which could be addressed by practicing
Permaculture, yet few of the continent’s dwellers are fully implementing
the concept. Thus this project seeks to address the following
problems:
· Assisting
Permaculture enthusiasts across Africa with a basis to attend the IPC9
through training and
awarding course participants with a Permaculture design certificate,
which is a pre-requisite
of the convergence.
· To address
issues to do with environmental degradation which have caused various
livelihood problems across the
continent.
· Raising
awareness among the general populace of the importance and benefits
(health and
environmental)
of adopting Permaculture systems within our society.
· Issues to do
with capacity development in terms of the principles of Permaculture and
the spreading of the
concept across Africa.
· Introducing
sustainable agriculture as an accepted and appreciated system among the
producers, buyers and consumers in the agriculture
sector.
· Addressing
dietary inadequacy among HIV/AIDS infected and affected people.
Justification Of The Project
The main thrust of this project lies in ensuring that
Permaculture enthusiasts across Africa will get the opportunity to attend
a land mark event within Permaculture circles. The advent of the IPC9 to
Africa gives a chance for Permaculture stakeholders across the continent
to meet and learn more about how to implement the concept. Thus it is
imperative for active involvement of various participants from different
corners of the continent, but however, this aim is being hampered by the
fact that not many people in Africa hold a certificate in Permaculture
design. With this development, it will mean that not many people will be
able to attend the convergence and thus limiting the room for positive
impact. This project thus seeks to reduce the risk of minimum
participation through addressing the need to train possible in a
Permaculture design course that will leave participants with a greater
understanding and appreciation of Permaculture.
Apart from the increased participation in the convergence, training
courses in Permaculture design will contribute towards several other
positive impacts. In the light of rampant socio-economic and
environmental problems being experienced in the continent, Permaculture
poses an opportunity to move towards better livelihoods for the African
person. Considering the unprecedented climate changes, the continued
degradation of the environment through issues such as air and water
pollution, erosion and gully formation; considering also the social
problems Africa is facing which includes high prevalence rates of
HIV/AIDS, food insecurity and unfair trade opportunities for producers,
the continent is in need of a sustainability plan which will look into
saving the society’s rich source of livelihood- the land. Knowledge in
Permaculture through training will provide certain solutions in terms of
environmental sustainability which lie in areas such as the harmonious
integration of man and nature.
The green revolution of the 1970s promoted increased yields using a model
of industrial agriculture defined as monoculture, which required massive
amounts of both fertilizer and pesticide as well as multiplied purchases
of seed. This approach is now causing problems within the continent
through its unprecedented consequences of extensive soil degradation and
water pollution from the pesticides and fertilizers. The revolution
caused serious environmental problems to various ‘south’ countries
including small holder farmers in Asia and Latin America who could not
afford to purchase the fertilizers, pesticides and water necessary for
the hybrid seed. To pay their debts, the farmers had to resort to selling
their most valuable asset - their land. Thus Africa’s diverse ecological
systems, and even more diverse farming systems, require multiple
initiatives, from intercropping to Permaculture, from respecting the
traditional knowledge to training and equipping the continent with more
knowledge on sustainable agriculture.
In addition, with all the benefits that come from adopting
Permaculture systems, it is of paramount importance that the general
African public (producers, consumers, processors, health practitioners,
media etc) be made conscious of the goodness that comes out of
Permaculture. Placing an emphasis on awareness through the attention and
media coverage that comes through hosting an international convergence
will present a situation where people will be enlighted of the benefits
of Permaculture. These benefits in the form of soil improvements,
natural and ecological maintenance, cost effective farming with low
external inputs and healthy crop produce will positively affect the
ordinary subsistence farmer as well as other artisans who live off the
land. This world wide movement will also present a possibility for
policy-makers to become skewed towards Permaculture friendly policies in
a bid for sustainability.
The IPC is a convergence of various people with different levels of
knowledge in Permaculture and sustainable agriculture. Thus this project
seeks to enhance the capacity for Africans in general to become more
competent to contribute in the convergence and beyond, with ideas and
notions that will be accepted as practical solutions towards continental
and global improvements of Permaculture. Hence this training is strategic
for Africa as it stands as the stepping stone which will initiate a
continental movement towards sustainability and set the ball rolling for
further developments along Permaculture lines to surface. The end result
of the project is a situation Permaculture has become as an accepted and
appreciated concept across the continent, resulting in improved
livelihoods and environmental sustainability for Africa.
Project Description
The basic concept of the project aims at enhancing the
capacities and knowledge base of Permaculture practice in the continent
and this is going to be done through strategic training in Permaculture
design courses. This training is going to be conducted at Fambidzanai
Permaculture Training centre in Zimbabwe with consultants coming in from
different areas of the continent and abroad. Three participants from Ten
Southern African countries will receive the initial training in Zimbabwe,
and then these participants will go and pioneer Permaculture programmes,
so that the Permaculture practice spreads in their countries. This wave
of Permaculture information dissemination will provide a sufficient base
for the continent to have adequate numbers of people participating in the
forthcoming IPC9. Also true, Permaculture implementation will improve
across the continent because of the hype that will come from hosting the
convergence, resulting in improved environmental sustainability.
The project will be implemented using a Results-Based
Project Cycle Management Framework. This is a team
based and participatory approach and philosophy to project management
that emphasizes on development results in planning, monitoring,
reporting, learning and evaluation.
Project Objectives
The Goal; To increase Permaculture intervention across
Africa through training in a Permaculture Design Course for participants
within the continent.
The Purpose; To train participants from
across Africa in a bid to increase the number of African countries who
are practicing Permaculture and also improve Africa’s involvement in the
forthcoming International Permaculture Convergence (IPC9)
Overall Impact
Increased application and appreciation of Permaculture
across the continent of Africa, resulting in improved livelihoods for the
general African people.
Outcomes
·Increased number of African Permaculture enthusiasts
holding a recognized certificate in Permaculture (Permaculture design
course) and increased participation in the IPC9.
·Improved implementation of Permaculture principles across the continent
of Africa.
·Improved environmental sustainability through practicing environmentally
friendly Permaculture principles.
·Improved dietary diversity and health standards through the consumption
of healthy crops, leading to better nutrition for HIV/AIDS infected and
affected people.
Training
This will be a very critical component of the project
cycle since information will be rendered to all stakeholders so that
certain outcomes can be achieved. The continent will be divided into four
sectors which are Southern Africa; east and Central Africa, West Africa
and North Africa. The initial training (phase one) will involve the
training of at least three (3) participants from ten (10) Southern
African countries. These participants will be trained at Fambidzanai
Permaculture centre in Zimbabwe and consultancy will be done by different
Facilitators from Africa and the world over. After receiving training,
the participants will draft action plans on how they will pioneer
Permaculture programmes in their respective countries. Fambidzanai, with
its involvement in the IPC8, and its valuable experience as a
Permaculture institute since 1988, has a demonstration site on the centre
and these factors have facilitated the need for trainings to be held at
Fambidzanai so that all participants get to grasp concepts with a
practical appreciation.
More over, as Fambidzanai, issues of HIV/AIDS are of great importance to
us so much that most of our training curricula possess connotations of
HIV/AIDS training. Our focus on nutrition and dietary diversity are more
centered towards PLWHAs and this will also be echoed throughout the
training, in this project. Another area that we specialize in, as an
organization is the use of herbs and their medicinal functions for both
the infected and affected, which will be another area that we seek to
look into during the project implementation.
The training for the continent as mentioned earlier will comprise of
different phases that have been structured according to the four regional
sectors of Africa and each phase will have a budget of its own. Thus it
is important to note that the following budget will be for the first
phase of training, i.e. Southern Africa. However the calendar proposed
for all the trainings is as follows:
Southern Africa : September-October 2007
East and Central Africa : February-March 2008
West Africa: May- June 2008
North Africa : September-October 2008
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.com
www.sbpermaculture.org
"We are like trees, we
must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." -
Anonymous