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The African Farmers’ Organic
Research and Training (AfFOResT) Eco-Lab was completely destroyed by fire on 13
February. This beautifully thatched building, which was surrounded by tall
trees, just 20km from Harare, was struck by lightening around 9pm. Despite the
efforts of local firemen, the burning thatch and roof timbers rained down inside
the Lab, engulfing all our equipment in flames.
The Eco-Lab was built just four years
ago with Norwegian and Danish funds. It was the first non-government (NGO)
research and training laboratory to serve small-scale farmers in Africa.
Although the
building and its contents were insured, inflation is currently in excess of 60%
in Zimbabwe. Consequently, we will be lucky to recover the total cost of the
building, let alone replace all the equipment that was lost. The saddest loss is
that of the microscopes. Each group of illiterate and semi-literate farmers were
so excited the first time that they used them – a whole new world was opened
up to them. During their ‘scientific
learning through discovery’ courses they could see how leaves breathe, where
water and ‘food’ is carried in roots and stems, how and where aphids feed,
how fungi propagate, how bacteria move and differences between the mouth parts
of beneficial, decomposer and pest nematodes.
We at AfFOResT
would welcome donations of unwanted (unsophisticated) scientific equipment,
especially microscopes, which can be used by our farmers. We hope to re-build
the Eco-Lab in time for the next farmers’ training course, which is in May
this year. If you think you can help please contact Dorothy Myers (Cotton
Project Coordinator) at PAN UK.
Dr Sam Page, AfFOResT.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 47, March 2000, page 17]