Into the Bush - Wednesday, Rwanda, Africa

Pictures have been added to today and yesterday's postings

3/13/08: - 7am in Kigali, Rwanda, Africa. In the condo, typing to a dawn in what is very much a comfortable city to be in. Other than not being able to speak or understand the language, life goes on. Online means ability to post this blog, and simultaneously have a chat window open with my wife. But here's my notes from yesterda y afternoon, which were written from the backseat of an small SUV at about 7pm as we drove back from the bush.

3/12/08 – afternoon; about 75 degrees F, little humidity, quite pleasant as the sun shines brightly. We are tkaing a field trip to the southern province, to the development of Kabrizi, and to Mayaga Coffee Plantation, with Scott Wagner. We are assisting with the distribution of new seeds and the education of local citizens for the growiung of Jatropha trees.

Jatropha trees will be "intercropping" with coffee plants, and are planted on terraced hillsides, valleys, and high plateaus, where coffee plants now grow. Coffee is the number one crop in the country, and Jatropha trees can actually help increase both the quantity and the quality of the coffee plants - wherever the soil is rich and the common techniques for farming are employed (water, drainage, maintenance). Growing is done in organized sections & strategies relative to density per sq. meter, within the boundries of the available land. Yes, there are formal plots of land and land ownership (title) virtually everywhere in the country - either the Government or someone - or a company - owns the land, or leases it.

Along the way, miles & miles of unkept dirt roads, winding over and around hills and through housing “developments:” – 30 or 40 of a variety of buildings, from mud huts with palm leave roofs, to adobe and cinder block one/two-room (or doors) with metal roofs, to wood frame structures of all shapes and sizes (all one story) with tile roofs. The newer the dwelling, the better the building materials and techniques used (like site location & preparation). Absolutely nothing in the way of utilities – no running water, sewage systems, electricity, etc. Lushness everywhere.

3+ hours after leaving Kigali, we are way south, almost near the Burundi border, there'a a cofee washing station at this location, a new facility built with American ingenuity upon a terraced hillside, taking advantage of gravity and water-based filtering/sifting techniques. These washing stations are probably the ideal collection points for Jatropha harvests, utilizing the same labor and facility (just not the same machinery & techniques). I'll have some pictures on this soon. Geographically dispersed, relative to the coffee farms and larger plantations, the washing stations (Jatropha collection centers) are the first step in the Jatropha harvest. As with coffee harvest, the initial process is about removing both the bad/unwanted seeds (beans) and keeping only the desired ones. In this process of segmentation and filtering, there is a resideue (“pulp”) which results. For both coffee & Jatropha, the pulp is turned into compost and used during new planting & plant maintenance. Jatropha production facilities will be based on geographic proximity to the washing stations, relative to major roads to minimize the transportation impact.....which are all relative to where local population can be utilized as workers. There is NO transportation system - everyone walks, unless you have a bicycle or motorcycle. Virtually no cars anywhere except for government and police. So to be successful, we have come to the location. We delivered about an hour's work of education ,through two different translators - one for those who speak Ruwandan, and one for those who speak Swahili. Taught them a little about what we are doing, then showed them how to do it, then helped them do it, then watched them do it. Then we celebrated - pictures coming. Different route on the way out, took us through more jungle and lush forest than the civilization we saw driving in. Lots of beef - cattle, with horns, and not much bulk. Didn't see any signs of cattle production - no calves seen at all on this trip. Dinner back in Kigali at 8pm - MEXICAN ! And, for Ruwanda, not bad at all. Had beef fajitas, prepared just like you would get it back in California, with rice & beans, sizzingly platter of beef strips, onions, bell peppers (or something equivalent), tomatoes but no spices in the mix. And no cheese !! Only problem were the tortillas, which were more asian-style (very thin) and did not hold up well as a wrap. But the food -and the local beer - were excellent. Written from the back of a Toyota Rav4 small SUV, on the main rode back to Kigali from the southern border.....