Project proposal for Home Gardening - Poly Bag

For tsunami effected people at Tangalle Tsunami housing scheme.

There is nothing nicer than picking fresh fruits and vegetables; not only do they

taste better but the satisfaction of growing it yourself is immense.

OUR WORD

WHAT WE DO

Project period – 01/01/2008 to 31/12/2010

Coverage – Tangalle divisional secretarial

Direct beneficiaries – Tsunami affected families.

Local management – Tangalle Children Relay.

Funds provided by – Mr. & Mrs. Christ Janet from Great Britain.

History

An unexpected tsunami hit Tangalle coastal strip very badly and mercilessly. This incident left thousands of people homeless and helpless. The fantastic & merciful reaction worldwide towards those hopeless people could give a hope to for the victims to live. Greatest among them were to provide them a shelter in a safe area away from such threats.

Present situationThe time has passed. 3rd anniversary is just in 2 months to come. I personally value the greatest deed done by entire world for tsunami affected people in Sri Lanka. Yet, in the meantime providing a shelter and occupying them away from their usual fisheries background are still a matter to debate. This practice has largely affected the small scale daily fisherman. It is identified that these fishermen should reside in the vicinity of coastal tripe to study the correct and right timing to go for catching. The wind, currents, color of water, waves and sea birds are still the main sings for local fishing community to understand possible days catch.

Why they should be supportedThus, living away from the shore has resulted dropping their daily catch in considerable portion. So, those families then have to find some extra income to fill this gap. Normally the traditional fishing community is not used to do any other activities than fishing. The wives were used to stay home while husband go way for fishing. The wife did the cooking and looking after the children

and other house hold activities. Those still had extra time, engaged making core ropes or drying fish. But when they are away from the sea, those women can’t engage in such

activities to ad extra income to the family. The tsunami housing schemes, where those people now occupied are packed houses with limited open space. They are all from the same situation and none of them could offer to invest for new job opportunities. So the lonely women

in confined houses need ways to raise their income to suite the family requirements.

What we propose The best possible and affordable opportunity that Tangalle Children Relay has identified for those communities is to introduce and assist them to grow their own vegetable consumption at their limited open spaces. Some people have already started this project, but still many others need financial supports, knowledge and encouragement to begin.

According to the researchesThe latest statistics shows that very few families are now living along the coastal strip after tsunami. Also those houses are scattered along the beach. So it makes hard to gather them together to start a project. So the most suitable device is to go tsunami housing schemes where the most needs prevail.

Where to initiate the projectWe have already identified several large tsunami housing schemes around Tangalle town. Approximately they are 4 to 10 km away from

Tangalle. The nearest one to Tangalle is called “Yayawaththa – Godigamuwa” is located 04 km along Kataragama road. This housing scheme is designed constructed by “Plan International” organization after tsunami. There are 200 houses occupied there since 18 months. They are from several villagers and about 1000 in population. There is a large amount of manpower, which is not wisely utilized. A small scaled poly bag gardening to grow the daily vegetable consumption will be a sound advantage for their family budget and nutrition as well. Children’s nutrition is a major issue of their family development.

Domestic Garbage collection for composting.

How TCR is going to implement this project at Yayawaththa Tsunami Housing Scheme.

Find out existing C.B.O. in this community, which are currently in operation.

If not, to assemble the community and to form a strong CBO for poly gardening.

To get the services of experts in the relevant field in the region to give and guide lectures for the people to get better knowledge and idea of poly bag gardening and compose production.

Explain them the importance of having their own fresh vegetable at home.

Explain them the importance of nutrition and health of their own children. How it could improve their family financially and socially.

Select a group of families that really having an interest on the subject to continue.

Provide them with basic needs, such as compose, poly bags, seeds, and some hand tools.

Find traditional chemical free pesticides from the surrounding.

Start and guide them for vegetable gardening.

I started growing some of my own food when I moved into a flat that had an old apple tree; the thrill I got from picking my first apple is something I can still remember. The best news of all is that you don't need to have a huge garden or an allotment; you don't need to spend lots of money or time or effort; you don't need to be an expert; all you need is a tiny bit of enthusiasm and a willingness to try.

Requirements. Employ a young talented person (male or female) as Field

Officer full time for the first 6 months. This Field Officer’s duty will follow –

Visit the housing scheme regularly Coordinate with TCR management and other relative personals including trainers. Form and guide CBO towards the goals set by management. Advice the members at any encountered difficulty. If needed get advises from the management. Arrange purchases of necessary material and keep correct records and bills. Evaluate each garden to find out difficulties encountered by them and find solutions. (Locations and quality of the soil) Coordinate with relevant state officials and private organizations and be update with latest technology and utilize them wisely in our project. Encourage each family by visiting and promoting them regularly. Arrange awareness programs to update the family members with latest knowledge. Be responsible of the quality of the gardening. Make aware the general community by providing lectures regarding fresh vegetable and its nutrition.

To check with the relevant experts and determine, which vegetable could make a better harvest for this region. To select 100 families to start. Divide them in to 10 groups according to their location. Appoint a leader for each group.

Delegate their responsibilities to each leader and provide them with sufficient training.

Responsibilities of Tangalle Children Relay (TCR). TCR to organize all financial transactions and keeping records of all the events. TCR is responsible for all the purchases and cost. TCR should coordinate with the donor parties with latest updates and progresses regularly. TCR should evaluate whole project and its progress and make necessary reports and submit them to the donor parties in time. Inspect the village gardens and coordinate the duty of the field officer. Communicate with the government officials and media to give publicity for this project. Coordinate with other similar gardening projects to share the knowledge. Organize annual competitions and award them with consolable presents to motivate them. Improve and expand the project to other families in other tsunami housing schemes. Estimate the final cost for the first 6 months of the project.

Responsibilities of donor parties. Coordinate with TCR regularly. Provide what they expect from TCR toward this project

frankly. Arrange a working contract between TCR and donor

parties with basic regulations. Provide finance at right time as agreed. Make the project public among their original countries to

make aware them and to find more funds for the future of the project.

Inspect the village site by visiting themselves or sending their agents or relations to Tangalle periodically to see the progress of the project.

Possible difficulties to encounter. Unexpected draught and insufficient water supply to the

gardens.Comments – There is a new water supply has connected to the main water stream recently. It is one of the largest water recourse connected to this water new water project. So the risk is very less estimated.

Unexpected decease spread among gardens.Comments – there is an agricultural research centre at next town. It will be helpful to identify and treat them easily in such situations.

Difficulty of collecting enough garbage to produce necessary composting.

Comments – It should be estimated by the knowledge of experts. Possibly there would be plenty of garbage for sufficient composting.

Possible vegetable to grow in these gardens. Tomato Beans Radish Brinjal(Aubergine or Eggplant) Lady’s finger (Okra) Winged bean Pumpkin Chilies Green leafy vegetables Bitter Gourd Snake gourd Cucumber Curry chilies Spinach Bottle gourd Luffa (Ridge gourd)

Snake gourd

Budget for the first 06 six months

Field officers salary (10,000.00 Rs per month) 266.00 pounds 58,520.00 LKR25000 poly bags (25 bags each family by 100 families) 218.00 Pounds 47,960.00 LKRSeeds for first time 45.00 Pounds 9,900.00 LKRComposting for the first time 68.00 Pounds 14,960.00 LKRCovering fences to protect the garden from Monkeys. 117.00 Pounds 25740.00 LKRLecturer fees 68.00 Pounds 14,960.00 LKRTransport 55.00 Pounds 12,100.00 LKRStationary 18.00 Pounds 3,960.00 LKRHand tools (one set for each group – 10 groups) 45.00 Pounds 9,900.00 LKRAdministrative fee 100.00 Pounds 22,000.00 LKR

Average investment for each beneficiary family 10.00 Pounds 2,200.00 LKRTotal investment for the full project 1000.00 Pounds 220,000.00 LKR.

The families will start to consume the harvest right after two months time of Commencement. It could last for one 06 to 08 months. Expected benefit per family per month is 4.50 Pounds 990.00 LKR.

There are one or two general tips to bear in mind:

1. You will need to water regularly - 2. You will need to feed the plants once the flowers appear. 3. Drainage is important so ensure your container has holes

in the bottom and use some stones or broken pots sharks in the bottom to increase drainage.

4. Keep free of weeds, in a small space you want to be nourishing the plants and not the weeds.

5. Grow things that you will like to eat.6. Grow things that are easy to grow.7. Don’t imagine that you can grow all your vegetable needs

at home.

A woman at her successful

garden

She uses traditional methods

Radish is grown in harsh soil.

This is a really nice garden to see.