ALATONA PROJECT, DIABALY

David is working on a large project expanding irrigated farm land, mostly rice: 12,500 acres, 120 miles of canals.

Project secretary: Fatoumata Sissoko

David's driver: Sikiri

I spent time with the drivers, that is Sikiri second from left.

And when you spend time with someone you also drink shots of super sweetened Chinese green tea.

Sikiri drove, and Umu and Aminata showed me some of the project.

Which of course has big canals, which feed secondary canals which feed ditches alongside the plots of land.

From the ditches, crops are irrigated with buckets or half a calabash gord. Between rice crops, fast growing truck garden crops are raised.

The project not only built farm land, it also built new villages.

With basic block and metal roof houses. The farmers expand their space with more temporary structures.

This yurt like one is common to the Fulani peoples: called "suudu cekke" meaning "house of grass mats".

Of course schools...

...and market places as well.

A leather worker, repairing sandals, making knife sheaths, animist amulets, daily use items.

Canals make nice places to watch sunsets.