Old McCEFA had a farm, EIEIO 2

With a carport here and guesthouse there, here some cement there some lumber, everywhere construction...
Roy & Aleta Danforth
Covenant missionaries to the Central African Republic
cell phones: Aleta 011 237 7529 5071 and Roy 011 236 7766 5079
email: roy-aleta.danforth@covchurch.org
for us personally:  http://blogs.covchurch.org/danforth/
for the ag project, CEFA: http://car-cefa.blogspot.com

Old Mc CEFA had a farm, EIEIO

With a building here, a dormitory there, here a house, there a shop, everywhere construction...

Termites and coconut trees

Termites are quite the problem here in the tropical rainforest, not only attacking the wood in our houses, but eating LIVE trees.  There are some trees whose substance is woodier and drier than others, which makes them a great target for these pesky insects who love that taste!  Since coconuts along the coastline thrive in sandy soil,the CEFA team decided that putting sand around the coconut would deter the advance of the hungry termites.  But, as you can see in the photos, the sand was not deterrent enough, so we added salt and a tithonia (local termite repellent plant) solution.   This seems to be working, and is an example of how CEFA works.   CEFA takes the brunt of the loss in experimentation, and passes on the successes to the villager.

ATTENTION ALL CEFA BLOGGERS!

Timothy Chapman arrival in Gamboula (w/50 lb jakfruit)

New Internet System

CEFA's home location, Gamboula station, just got a new and faster internet system! Before, I was frustrated and really could not do the blog because the internet system was either not working or excruciatingly slow. Now, it is working great! In addition, Timothy Chapman just arrived to help CEFA out for the next two years! He's a former DRCongo missionary kid, a UC Davis ag development grad, and a former ECHO intern! What better qualifications could there be? Well, he's a blogger as well, so he can help to keep CEFA's blog updated! Nice!As CEFA has started the new year, it has begun connecting with 10 new villages to establish village co-ops and it has started to prepare gardens for new plantings for 2013. More later.

OUAGA ECHO CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY CEFA's DIRECTOR

CEFA's director Benoit Zangao just got back from his trip to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso where he attended a 4 day ECHO Conference. He learned a lot from the many different sessions varying from learning how to create biogas from animal manures to the many benefits of the Moringa tree. He also finally got to meet some of the ECHO staff. In particular, pictured with Benoit is former missionary to the agroforestry program at Gamboula, Tim Watkins, who was happy to see Benoit in the flesh for the first time. Benoit not only learned quite a bit from the conference, but he made new friends, contacts where more new ideas and experiences can be exchanged. He spent a grueling two days and two nights with no sleep in his return home, but I am particularly glad to have him back!

ROY REUNITED WITH CEFA AND BENOIT

After spending the past year in the US, Roy has returned to service in Central Africa to join Benoit in working with the CEFA program. Roy visited many churches and FRB farmers during his last home assignment with the Covenant church and had a great time being with family and friends. He and Aleta arrived Gamboula on the 26th of May to the absolute delight of Benoit who did a very good job of not only holding the fort down practically on his own, but went beyond the call of duty introducing new crops and starting up more than 10 new cooperatives! Also, though only back a couple of weeks, there have been many visitors that have come to the station and are interested in learning about CEFA, but more on that later! CEFA is alive and well it is hoped that this blog will be communicating updates on a more frequent basis. Thanks to all who look in on CEFA's happenings.

CEFA IS NOW REGISTERED IN THE USA

As of April 24, 2012, CEFA is now a registered Not-for-Profit corporation within the State of Illinois! This is a start to the process of establishing CEFA Foundation, Inc. in the US as a 501C3 so that donations can be accepted with a tax-free status. The other purpose for creating CEFA, Inc. is to have a Board of Directors that is behind all of CEFA's activities and vision in Africa, to actively seek donor sources and ministry partners. Currently, the by-laws are being put together and the form for the 501C3 status is being filled out. CEFA CAR will be putting together an agreement to be signed by both CEFA organizations, but that will not take place until their next Board meeting, hopefully sometime during the summer. Thanks to the CEFA Inc. Board for their input and a special thanks for the voluntary services of Stephen Fingal, CEFA, Inc.'s lawyer and Roy's long-time friend, for all his time and effort in making this all possible. Roy and Aleta are finishing up their year in the US and return to CAR May 21st!