The future and the edification of societies that will determine tomorrows’ Africa
We believe that investment in education is key to unlocking prosperity in Africa.
Our vision is to roll-out a bold, intensively monitored experiment in the provision of a specifically designed, high technology curriculum, constructed by educational visionaries in Europe. This method has the potential to revolutionize education for the poorest communities around the world. Schools involved in this development will include:
Tea Estates – The company provides schools for employees’ children, including kindergarten, and primary schools up to the age of 14 years old. The primary schools have over the years provided a good quality of education for its students and have performed highly in the national league tables. The company also provides creches for staff to provide care for their children during working hours.
Banana plantation – In a population with 60% illiteracy (2010), Matanuska’s farm school for around 700 pupils will make a huge difference to the opportunities of young Mozambicans in the area.
One of our goals includes the stimulation of entrepreneurship within communities and the introduction of appropriate technology to assist this process through our Community Business School initiative.
Conservation Agriculture is an agricultural method that has been specifically designed for the small scale African farmer. It introduces an appropriate method to increase yield and impact livelihood in a truly sustainable manner.
Working with Foundations for Farming, an organization dedicated to improving sustainable farming practice for both small and large-scale growers in Zimbabwe, Rift Valley (through its Northern Farming subsidiary) continues to introduce and promote the principles of conservation agriculture to its farmers. These principles have widespread impact, with the techniques being dispersed within communities as they are seen to universally increase yields.
The conservation agriculture method based on the following key principles;
- Minimum soil disturbance
- Provision of soil cover – mulch
- Use of Crop mixing and rotation
- Use of high management techniques
- Timely implementation of all operations
- Precision farming
- Efficient application and use of inputs – ‘bang for buck’
Through the above method, yields improve and inputs are reduced. Furthermore, land retains its’ agricultural potential without degradation, allowing for sustainable land use whilst maintaining bio-diversity in the region.