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permaculture - [permaculture] This Week on Sustainable World Radio, Fri, Aug 10, Interview with Kudzanai Lewis Mashingaidze, of the Zimbabwe Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre

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  • From: Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network <lakinroe@silcom.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, eastbaypermaculture@yahoogroups.com, ppg@lists.riseup.net
  • Subject: [permaculture] This Week on Sustainable World Radio, Fri, Aug 10, Interview with Kudzanai Lewis Mashingaidze, of the Zimbabwe Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre
  • Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:06:17 -0700

Sustainable World Radio: Friday, 9-10 am PST, KCSB 91.9 FM in Santa Barbara,California. Also, streaming live on the web, www.kcsb.org, and later posted on www.ipc9.org, or www.radio4all.net.

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).


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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









  • [permaculture] This Week on Sustainable World Radio, Fri, Aug 10, Interview with Kudzanai Lewis Mashingaidze, of the Zimbabwe Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre, Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, 08/09/2007

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