Mahmoud Alour Ali, Girgir dam
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Authors
Elizabeth Dunn
Issue Date
2015-05
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Agriculture , Water and Sanitation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Mahmoud is 60 years old, married with 2 wives and has 14 children (7 girls and 7 boys, aged from 1 year to 30). He lives 30km from the city of Kassala in Sudan. Mahmoud is the village chief. Mahmoud explained: “life before, there was no agriculture. We depended on trading charcoal, cutting trees and selling wood and animal husbandry. In our area, there was no agriculture. Purely animal husbandry. We would come to Kassala to buy food and to slaughter the animals. We would have to leave the village to farm in other areas. We would leave our families during the harvest season.” (for four months at a time.) Agriculture has three seasons – planting, taking care of the crops and harvesting. “After one month, I would come back to check on my family. Then I would wait until the harvest so I could bring the crops home. I would have to send money home to my family. I was worried about my family but I had no other choice. What is more important than your children? I can’t even tell you how life has changed.” Mahmoud explains that agriculture is a secure job unemployed people, as they now work for the farmers. “I am secure; I can grow products and food for my animals. My children are able to go to school now. I have been able to buy 2 cows with a calf, it cost me 14,000 SDG. I am able to produce my own milk, rather than buy it. We have started to buy new clothes, coffee and sugar.” “Thank god, my children are healthy. I grow corn, okra, mint, sorgum. I grow 3 fadden worth. I sell some of the produce and keep some to feed my family. Before, my income was unpredictable, I didn’t know when I would get work. Now I earn 500 SDG – 600 SDG per month, before it was only 150 SDG – 200 SDG per month. I have 5 sheep, 2 donkeys, 1 camel and 3 cows. If the animals get sick, to get the medication I have to sell one of them to pay for it." My wife was sick when pregnant and she needed a c-section. I had to sell 2 sheep to pay for it. This is from God, if God wants that then there is nothing I can do. A lot of people in the village have lost animals. They have done nothing because it is from God. We just try and adjust when there are hard times. The village near us got their revolving fund. A revolving fund in our village could help us. We would have another income.”