A little about what I do here

Now I have been told that I haven’t explained enough about what I do here, where I work. Well that is in part due to the fact that everything has been slowly (this is African time here) sorting itself out. Little by little things are becoming clearer and with the end of Ramadan life will return to a more normal pace. Basically I work with APIPAC, an association of irrigation specialists and all the connected activities. What this means it that they specialize in installation, maintenance and training for simple micro-irrigation, such as, hand pumps, treadle pumps (a bit like a Stairmaster that pumps water), motor pumps, California system (underground pipe system) and drip irrigation. The part of “all the connected activities” means that they work with producers, transformers, local markets and exporters of fruit and vegetables, as well as providing access to micro-credits. It is this section, rather than the technical irrigation section, that I am involved with. My role in all this is to work closely with the mango value chain, though I have also done work with different vegetables. I am to look at all the parts of the chain from the mango producer all the way up to the exporter that sends the mangoes to you. I am trying to identify areas in which support, training and information can be better delivered, identify the key problems and possible solutions and trying to facilitate the dialogue between the different actors in the chain. I have been able so far to do a couple a site visits to local area transformers of mango products and points of sale. I am soon to be headed out on the field to visit some orchards and to talk to producers. As for right now I have been learning about and trying to understand the complicated web of problems, challenges and best practices. I have been making connections with people, analyzing data, writing reports and going to meetings, all this with making sure to sample all the goods that I am helping to promote!