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Two and a half acres of Lab Lab cattle fodder -
Second well being drilled at Cogent Farm -
Machinery from local mine arrived to help us clear 8 more acres for crop farming -
Modifying the storage building in preparation for harvest time -
Pest control inspection of our corn field -
Oiling up the planter -
Drilling first well at Cogent Farm -
Goat herd -
Chicken farming -
Men working on converting the old dairy building -
Mary getting lessons from Bob Luckhurst -
Enlarging and clearing more field area -
Cogent Farm's first field is plowed -
Faithful partner, Bob Luckhurst on the tractor he donated along with friends in the States
Mission
To provide long-term sustainability for the needs of Children of Promise Orphan Center, assist the poor through the production of farming and raising of livestock and provide agricultural training.
Our Vision
Botswana is a semi-arid country importing 70–80% of its food from neighboring countries. We have long felt that a farm project is key to providing long term sustainability for Children of Promise Orphan Center and increasing our ability to help the orphans and needy around us, generating income to help other community programs.
After construction of Children of Promise Orphan Center began, the burden to secure a farm continued to grow. After much prayer and research we located a farm nearby with a strong water source (very rare here) which is essential to successful farming in Botswana.
The 44 hectare farm (109 acres) is located just 15 km (9 miles) from our town of Selebi-Phikwe and borders a major river. With irrigation from the river, and a borehole, we can grow crops year round and be sure to always have a market for what we grow. Included among the developments to the property are a building (formerly used as a dairy building pictured here), a water tank tower and perimeter fencing on three sides.
Immediate Goals
- Purchase and install water pumps and irrigation equipment
- Drill well ( Two boreholes drilled) COMPLETED
- Purchase fertilizer and seed COMPLETED
- Hire and train farm manager
- Clear and plant first section (10 acres) of field COMPLETED planting of 8 acres
- Plant orchard (15 trees left to plant)
- Plant cattle fodder COMPLETED
- Begin construction of first fish pond
- Build housing for farm workers COMPLETED
Main Objectives
- Provide the Orphan Center with fresh meats, vegetables, staples and fruits
- Grow cash crops to generate finances thus providing operational costs of the Orphan Center and other outreaches
- Fund the Orphan Center locally thus providing long-term sustainability and reducing need for donor dependence
- Provide community with locally grown fresh vegetables, fruits, staples and meats (over 70% of foods are imported)
- Assist government in reaching its goals of improving the quality of life for orphans and the underprivileged
- Provide jobs and agricultural training to help others be more self-supporting
Updates
Here's video of Cogent's second well being drilled.
Botswana has been a model of democracy in Africa since its independence in 1966. Unfortunately, it has been one of the hardest hit countries by the HIV-AIDS pandemic. This has destroyed much of the family structure and left tens of thousands of orphans. The government is helping in many ways yet there are still so many children who are living in a daily nightmare of trauma, loneliness, abuse and neglect. We need to step forward and help these innocent children in their time of need, but we cannot do it alone.