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Model farms were established in the communities in 2014, the first of two years of severe drought. However, despite the serious problems this drought meant for the farmers and their families and the fact that most of the dozen new trial crops did not survive, this was a perfect opportunity for the pineapple and the dragon fruit to prove their amazing drought-resistance gaining everyone's trust. These plants not only survived but also produced a harvest, albeit a modest one which was a little delayed.

Since then, families have been growing pineapple and dragon fruit on their own land, applying the techniques learned in the model farms and gradually increasing the number of plants, with good results despite the limited assistance received due to constraints in resources. However despite the good, natural reproduction potential of these crops, one model farm for a whole community is just too small and the rate of growth of family gardens is limited by the vegetative material available from the model farms for replanting in the communities.

Last year crops were affected by heavy rainfall and acid rain due to volcanic gases. The impact on all crops was extensive and sadly included the main traditional crops of corn and beans. However, once again the pineapple and dragon fruit survived intact, and actually the acid rain helped as a natural way of weeding pineapple. During a visit to assess the crop loss, people reflected on the potential benefit of having more pineapples and dragon fruits, but everyone concluded that the existing number of plants is just too small to live off.

Therefore, the next step is quite simple: to replicate the model farms experience at a larger scale, reaching family (or groups of two or three families) levels so the income level from these crops can be more significant. Dragon fruit plants and some production materials have been provided to 40 groups which include around 55 families in three communities.

To celebrate 14 years serving the Telica communities with your help, we want to raise £3,400 to provide agricultural supplies and technical assistance for the 40 family farms established this wet season.

#HelpTelicaThrive