Visit feedback – Dihokohoko

Partners: EBC Church and the Divundu Horticulture Projects (DHP)

2017-05-16

The main purpose of the visit was to assist Anton with general maintenance and repairs and to follow up on the R&D for better crop production.

A pump was repaired and replaced, fences were fixed, the general area was cleaned up and tests were done with new sprinklers to water the maize plants and to serve as ‘winter sprinklers’ protecting tomatoes during the cold months.

The progress of test cultivars was checked and evaluated and new cultivars were decided upon for the next test and R&D cycle.

Aqualand from Okahandja also gave valuable assistance based on the experience of some of their representatives in the Tsumeb and Grootfontein areas.

It was also found that a changeover to drip irrigation would increase the production efficiency greatly and Aqualand assisted with the design and quotation of a test section in the gardens.

Other issues were that 3 people were caught by a local crocodile on various occasions. This same crocodile almost took Anton, the local manager, from the barge upon which the pumps are mounted. These attacks were ended when the Angolan police shot killed the killer crocodile, during an attempt to catch one of their own.

It was also reported that 2 hippo bulls fought over territory next to Dihoko during which a stretch of fence was destroyed. Part of the headman’s kraal was damaged as they fought through the night, leaving a path of destruction. The lesser bull succumbed due to its wounds a few days later.

The photos attached below gives a general view of the area and the crops.