Our First Sorghum Harvest!

Farming on the other side of the Planet.  

 In northern part of South Sudan, Africa, a village of 5000 took on the challenge with the help of GEMS to build a farm. The chiefs chose 25 acres and without any machinery a group of 100 barefoot women and men dug a dike and ditch 5000+ feet long to prevent flooding during the rainy season. These villagers worked 8 hours a day for one kilo of grain and 25 cents/hour in extremely hot weather and difficult circumstances. 

 After two months of tough and hard labor they completed the first phase of the farm. With axes, hoes and shovels they cleared the land of trees and brush. The ground was plowed, tilled and furrowed one shovel at a time until it was ready to plant.  

Sorghum which is the main staple of this area was selected and planted in early July during the rains. Dependent on Mother Nature and the hard work of removing weeds and grasses by hand, the crops grew for 3 months. The first part of the harvest began in October and after drying was finished in January of 2021.  

The Harvest was complete, and 8,800 lbs. of sorghum was acquired. By world production standards it was a meager harvest … for the village of Majak Goi the farm and the harvest, a monumental achievement.  

Lessons have been learned, and adjustments made, to prepare for the upcoming season of farming on the other side of the Planet.