Continuity Boot Camp & Regional Agricultural Fair

The last days of the International Development Design Summit were spent alongside five community members of Orkilili who we invited back to our campus in Arusha. Each community member expressed interest in piloting the hay baler.

We develop a plan for piloting the hay baler.

We make last-minute adjustments to our final prototype.

Our smiling Mtendagi and one of a well-bound bale of hay.

When asked to generate a representation of 'resources we had' and 'resources we needed,' I was overwhelmed by all the resources I would have if I decided to create a venture after the summit based on the hay baler.

The Livestock Fodder Production Team demonstrates the hand baler to the director of the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN), an initiative of USAID.

It was inspiring to see so many ideas and concepts related to fodder production at the regional agricultural fair. This design is a drying-fence for cut grass.

This may be the most sophisticated fodder storage system we saw in Tanzania. Storage unites need to cover the fodder from the top and allow ventilation on the bottom.

It was incredible to see designs we had seen online come to life at the agricultural fair. This is a box baler, an alternative design for hay baling. The user simply compresses cut grass a four-sided box to form a bale.

 This machine served the same purpose as one prototype which we chose not to pursue. It chops the maze stems into small pieces. Without such a processor, maize stems go uneaten by livestock. It was fascinating to see such an industrial machine after our experience in rural areas. It cost approximately $2,000 whereas our prototype cost less than $20.

This was our nonindustrial prototype made from a motorcycle wheel and scrap metal.