Page 45 - Eggs and Ashes pages

44 Eggs and Ashes

Crescent-shaped terraces
(Story from ITDG)

ITDG worked closely with farmers in North Darfur (Sudan) to assist them in over-
coming food shortages. One approach was to increase water infiltration. Tradition-
ally, terraces for water harvesting were mostly rectangular in shape and not high
enough for current needs. ITDG offered training in simple survey techniques so
that farmers could detect the direction of the slope and ways of protecting the
terrace from being washed away if not well drained. Crescent-shaped terraces with
slightly higher edges were tried. These captured and spread more water, and resis-
ted water erosion by allowing excess water to flow through the edges of the cres-
cent. Now farmers harvest vegetables for six months after the rainy season and
earn money and secure food, even during seasons of low rainfall.

Adapted from ITDG Practical Answers to Poverty

Stemming the flood waters in Bangladesh
(Story from ITDG)

In Bangladesh, floods devastate the country every year. In the poorest areas,
houses are washed away and people face the daunting task of rebuilding them.
ITDG has worked with the local community to develop an improved house design
to ensure homes withstand the floods. The house consists of a room for sleeping
and storage and a veranda for cooking, with windows opposite the veranda to
improve ventilation. Within the room a raised bamboo platform provides storage
for valuables in the severest floods. A plinth of soil, stones and cement raises the
whole house above ordinary flood levels. The main structure of the house is made
from concrete footings and bamboo posts treated against rot; these are held
together with metal ties, bracings and fasteners. The walls of the house are made
of jute matting, which is cheap and easy to replace.

Adapted from Small World magazine