Training the Trainers

Analogies, Field Comparisons and Laughter

11.17.2024

By Tracy Blackmer, PhD

I only arrived two weeks ago, but it seems that I’ve acclimated to the weather and time differences. While I was debating how many fans I would want in the apartment when I arrived, now I hardly use the single fan I have. I still am not to the level that I want to wear a winter stocking hat or sweater when it drops to 70 degrees like some of the natives, but I have worn my flannel shirt a couple of times in the morning.

This past week, we started training the trainers. About 25 people are committed to partially training and partially working to set up a research farm during the next four months. They are a very diverse group who range from college-educated in agriculture to no formal education and possibly illiterate. But the response has exceeded my highest hopes.

One of our first lessons focused on the soil. I told them it was typical for ag students to start learning about the soil before learning about the crops. I stood on the edge of a field and said the soil must be good for roots to grow. We want them to be happy! 

Then I asked, “Will the roots be happy in this field?” 

I said I can’t see into the ground, so I don’t know by standing on the edge of the field, and looking only at the surface. I then dug into the ground on the edge of the field, looking at the roots of the grass and the future trainers were mesmerized at what they saw, and stunned when I said the roots could grow down more than 6 feet in healthy soil.

Moving ahead, I asked if we dug into the soil and looked at the roots and the roots looked happy, but I stood on the edge of the field, and did not look into the ground and said they would not be happy, who would be right – the roots or me?

Because many of the trainers are also pastors, we have adopted the term false prophet when I say something incorrect. They are starting to understand the concept that I often play a devil’s advocate in our discussions.

Farming Concepts

The initial week I used not only to partially assess the trainers, but also to establish that I’m here in Zambia to teach concepts and critical thinking. It’s not simply about a better prescription for farming. The group came up with about 30 farming questions they wanted to learn, which convinced me they understand and are committed and I can’t emphasize enough that they were very good questions. I was pleased. There will be hundreds of plots on the research farm to get the answers.

By the end of the week, they understood we would be putting out six row plots 40-feet long with many different farming practices. Each plot would give us an answer, so this farm was not just a maize farm, but really what I’m calling an answer farm. But to get an answer, we must ask the question first, so we can set up the right plots to compare and answer the questions.

I need to adjust how to establish research plots. The fields are a long walk from the village where people live. Because of the poverty, anything left in the field will likely be stolen. As a test, I put a few wire flags in the ground on a Friday and when I returned, they were gone. Even the small wooden garden stakes I would typically use and write what I did in a plot to label it, would likely be stolen. We are still struggling to figure out how to put some type of rain gauge out that will not be stolen. Even a stick with a soup can will likely disappear. The locals agree that if we chop wooden sticks and pound them in the ground instead of flags, the stakes will be left alone so we have already pounded in two acres of plot stakes, but we’re not even half done.

Analogies

Using analogies works effectively and is a popular way to communicate points. Two examples I recall, my Zambian friends found very funny. One involved explaining how much work we must do to put out all of the plots and that it would take a lot of time. I asked “How do you eat an elephant?” Then I said, “One bite at a time.”

Another was about the importance of crop residue preventing erosion. I explained the phrase, “Don’t farm naked,” referring to the residue covering the soil to prevent erosion. They understood the inference to people walking around naked while farming, as well. There are many jokes about the holes we are digging to look at roots ranging from who’s grave it will be, and don’t use it as a latrine, to wondering who is napping in them.

Comparisons

We started introducing the concept of side-by-side comparisons in a few short rows. They often plant in hills within a row here, rather than evenly-spaced planting within a row. The fertilizer is often placed in the hill, which could cause fertilizer burn to the roots. I placed seed kernels in a furrow with different ways of placing the fertilizer around the kernels and asked which ones will injure the plants and which ones will cause the roots to grow out. There was a good discussion about what they think they’ll see after they start to grow, and what would be better comparisons than what I set up.

I continually struggle to try and simplify an explanation without being condescending. So far, I think people prefer an overly basic explanation and have not been offended by me or perceive me as talking down to them.

I enjoy my interaction with the trainers, and believe the purpose in this mission will be more successful than I had originally hoped. I don’t know how many times we all laugh together when talking or explaining things, but it’s a lot.

I am truly humbled by the all the effort, respect and consideration the people here give me. I am going to have to buy a bigger hat. My head is swelling because of how well they treat me. Someone told me I look like President Trump. I’m still struggling to interpret that comment.