This case study demonstrates how subsistence farmers terrace land, build sand dams and plant trees as a route to achieving water and food security.
The film shows how farmers in semi-arid regions can address problems of soil erosion and water availability using terracing, sand dams and trees as a first step towards sustainable farming. The terracing and trees significantly reduce soil erosion and keep more moisture in the farms while the sand dams harvest rainwater, allowing farmers to dedicate more time to their farms, try out new farming methods like zero-grazing and inter-cropping, diversify their crops and work towards achieving food security and generating incomes.
The film includes interviews with farmers talking about how they have overcome the obstacles, diagrammatic slides, and questions at the end of each section.
Part1 Explores why soil and water conservation are an essential first step to achieve sustainable farming in semi-arid Africa and how Excellent Development supports farmers to do this with terracing, sand dams and trees. (13’ 34”)
Part2 Looks at the potential created by soil and water conservation – with hours a day saved from collecting water and firewood farmers can develop their farms using techniques such as zero-grazing, inter-cropping, diversifying the crops and other food they grow, income generating activities and ensuring food security with seed banks. (8’ 02”)
Film Guide
Overview of film with key vocabulary, answers to questions raised in the film, suggested activities, and full film script.
Powerpoint document containing diagrammatic models from the film. Can be printed as up to 9 to a page or individually as the basis for an exercise. The accompanying film script can be seen by going to view/notes pages..
