The BBC Shows Why the Work of CEFA is Vital

This morning I saw a stunningly depressing array of pictures from the
area around Gamboula, in South-west Central African Republic. But I
also have hope for the people in the pictures knowing that CEFA's goal
is to teach women, such as those pictured in the BBC's photo montage,
to grow more than cassava for their families to eat. Click on the BBC
link to see more.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8476107.stm

Work at CEFA Begins

We are excited to announce that the physical work of CEFA, the Center for Experimentation and Formation in Agriculture, has begun. Work crews began working on the road leading out to our new property, approximately 5 kilometres from the Garden of Eden and the original site of the Gamboula Agroforestry Program (GAP). GAP has grown into CEFA, a much larger project with a focus on improving food security through advances in staple crop production, vegetables, beans and small animal production. No other project of its kind exists any where near Gamboula and CEFA will be filling a vital role that has long been neglected.

Despite the lush, tropical surroundings, the Gamboula region suffers from malnutrition and food insecurity at levels more expected in drought prone, hard to grow in areas. Helping the people of our community in Gamboula increase their production of staple crops such as peanuts, egusi melon, beans and cassava will not only combat malnutrition and increase food security, but will also bring back a sense of hope for tomorrow which will reverberate throughout the community affecting positive change in people's lives.

Before we can start constructing fields and gardens on the CEFA property, we need to recreate the road so that vehicles and people can reach the CEFA site. Pictured above is one of the first of many crews hired to clear 1/2 kilometer sections of the 5 kilometer road. 

Stay tuned for more information as CEFA ramps up for the first growing season of 2010!