Nourishing the land

Estamos, WaterAid largest partner organization in Mozambique, was recently awarded the Mozambican Development Prize in recognition of the impact of their work in the remote Niassa Province.  One groundbreaking aspect of ESTAMOS' work has been the successful promotion of composting latrines.

When the farmers of Matamangwe village, in Northern Mozambique, heard that improved sanitation could help them boost their yield of crops, they were eager to find out more. WaterAid's partner, Estamos, had approached the villagers to introduce composting latrines as one of the sanitation options they could choose for their families.

Estamos initially built 20 trial latrines for the village. The permanent form of these latrines has two pits. Users add soil and ash after each use to help dry the contents, and once the first pit is full, it is covered and left to compost while the second pit is used.  Then the first is dug out and the rich compost is used as fertilizer for crops and the process is repeated.

The compost produced has increased our yields and is producing better quality crops. Now we not only have enough food for ourselves but have extra crops to sell.

Omar Salima, a member of the local farmers co-operative, talks enthusiastically about how the compost has improved their harvest.

“The compost produced has increased our yields and is producing better quality crops. Now we not only have enough food for ourselves but we have extra crops to sell. Maize, lettuce and peppers do best – they don't just wait (in the ground) they shoot up just like that!”

Omar adds, “In the past we had to buy artificial fertilizer and we could only afford to open a small field – just three hectares. Now we are able to farm 13 hectares.”

The effectiveness of the compost is evident to Omar and the other farmers. In places where the compost has been applied, lush green leaves of maize and lettuce grow abundantly.

In places where the compost has not been applied, the crops are a much paler green and not of the same high quality.

The organic compost produced by the farmers and their families saves them money and is also kinder to the land. The compost retains water better and helps build the soil instead of depleting it of its texture and nutrients, as artificial fertilizers do.

Furthermore, these latrines provide a permanent, safe and hygienic sanitation system. When a traditional latrine is full, the owner must start from scratch and dig a new latrine.

Village resident Joaquim Ajibo notes that with the composting latrines there are no flies or smell, and the incidences of diarrhea in his family have dropped dramatically.

As well as generating enough funds to build more latrines, the sale of crops has enabled the villagers to buy clothing and school materials for their children. The community has also spent part of the funds on increasing the number of wells that provide safe, clean water to the villagers.