Basic HTML Version
worth, boldly stepped out so the
Pygmies could be one of the first
people to reap the benefits of this
t ropical wonder plant that is high in
quality protein, oil , vitamins and
minerals.
1
n order to be able to introduce
effectively the winged bean in the
lturi forest, Hallet requested from
each
of over
12
major sources,
mostly in Asia,
150
kilograms
(330
pounds) of seeds to be sent to him.
The total received was only
152
kilograms.
Hallet could not risk scattering
such precious generative capital all
over the forest. He decided to plant
practically all tbe available seeds in
a single chosen area as a seed pro–
duction field and to have hundreds
of people-Pygmies and non-Pyg–
mies- participating through all
phases of the work.
Developing the Plantation
Gathering of all the tools, materials
and labor at the right time was no
small task. Here, for those of you
who have sorne knowledge of gar–
dening, is the equipment needed to
plant this winged-bean large-scale
multiplication field. The area–
measuring
118
meters
(387
feet)
by
300
meter s
(984
feet)–
required:
• 6,359
horizontal rods,
10.8
ft.
X
2.5
in. thick
• 6,509
vertical poles,
7.
5
ft. X
3
to 4 in. thick
• 95,390
lateral stakes,
8.2
ft.
X
1
to 2 in. thick.
Th at's a total of
108 ,258
"sticks," totaling more than
170
miles in length, if put end to end.
In addition,
51
miles o f rope
(twine) to secure
47,697
junctures
where stakes must be tied, was
required. And
19,000
nails to
securc sorne
12
miles of horizontal
rods.
Next carne the human labor. T he
cutting down of the bushes, the
cleaning up of the ground, the
plowing (without plows), the mea–
suring, the digging of drainage
ditches. The elaborate building of
the framework to s upport the
stakes, the staking, the last mani–
curing of the soil and the all-impor–
tant sowing- two seeds every 8
inches.
1
n the first major season of
growth, in
1982,
approximately
28
380,000
winged beans were culti–
vated by the Pygmies and Bantu
with a standard yield of about 18
TONS
of seeds and about
36
tons of
tubers.
In addition to the intensely culti–
vated field for seed production,
another plot was devoted to further
testing of
22
different varieties of
winged beans coming from six dif–
ferent countries.
Success of the winged-bean proj–
ect among the
Efé
will be shared
with other organizations devoted to
similar causes.
Helping Others to
Help Themselves
This winged-bean realization is a
bold and practica! example of how
true self-sufficiency
CAN
be
ac hieved by any endange r ed
peoples. The on-going success pro-
gram, as in all farming efforts, will
depend upon many unpredictable
factors- weather, water supplies,
disease and animal problems- and
in Zaire, local political and racial
relationships.
This remarkable achievement of
the P ygmy Fund is proof that
sound and successful agriculture is
the most essential factor in positive
people (and dignity!) building.
The untiring love, dedication and
efforts of many- especially Jean–
Pierre Hallet- to save the Pygmies
illustrate the principies for which
The Plain Truth
stands, and give
insight into what helping others to
help themselves will be like in the
promising world tomorrow!
That is why we regularly updatc
our readers on this unique effort.
The Pygmy Fund address is: Box
277,
Malibu, CA
90265.
o
Coming:
W
hy should it sound so incredible? The Bible
paints a wholly positive piCture about
the government, science, arts and the social
Ftr.1.~~~~~
order of the future. You can read about it in our
free booklet
The Wondertul World Tomorrow–
What
1t
Will Be L1ke.
For your copy, mail the card
or write to the
Plain Truth
office nearest you.