MBC Quantum Farming Academy: Growing (Cultivo)

4 modules. 24 illustrations. Zero text. Drip irrigation, pests, weeds, and water.

Module 1: Drip Irrigation Installation (Bucket Kit — $8)

Illustration 1.1 — CONCEPT: What is Drip Irrigation?

• Image: Left side: farmer watering plants with a bucket — water everywhere, most wasted. Right side: bucket with hose and drip tape — water drips directly to plant roots. Water savings shown as: 80% less water, 25% more yield.
• Meaning: Drip irrigation saves water and increases yield.

Illustration 1.2 — RIGHT WAY: Bucket Drip Kit Installation

• Image: A 20-liter bucket on a wooden stand (1 meter high). A 10-meter hose connects bucket to drip tape. Drip tape lies along plant rows. Water drips from small holes directly to plant roots. 5 drip emitters visible.
• Green checkmark.
• Meaning: Bucket on stand, hose to drip tape, water directly to roots.

Illustration 1.3 — WRONG WAY: Common Mistakes

• Image: Three mistakes:
  • Bucket too low (no water pressure)
  • Holes in drip tape too big (water floods, not drips)
  • No filter (dirt blocks holes, water stops)
• Red X on each.
• Meaning: Bucket high enough, small drip holes, use a filter.

Illustration 1.4 — STEP BY STEP: Installation

• Image: 4 panels:
  • Panel 1: Build wooden stand (1 meter high)
  • Panel 2: Place 20L bucket on stand, fill with water
  • Panel 3: Connect hose + filter + drip tape, lay along rows
  • Panel 4: Check drips — each emitter should drip slowly
• Meaning: Stand, bucket, hose, filter, drip tape. Check drips.

Illustration 1.5 — REAL FARM EXAMPLE

• Image: Mozambican farmer (woman, 35) in Manica province with her bucket drip kit. Stand made from local wood. Bucket recycled from cooking oil. Drip tape along maize rows. Plants visibly healthier near drippers.
• Meaning: This MBC farmer built a drip system for $8.

Illustration 1.6 — QUICK CHECK

• Image: Two setups. A: bucket on ground, no filter, big holes. B: bucket on stand, filter, small drip holes. Which works?
• Meaning: B works — high bucket, filter, small holes.

Module 2: Pest and Disease Identification

Illustration 2.1 — CONCEPT: What are Pests and Diseases?

• Image: A healthy green leaf on the left. A leaf with holes on the right (insect damage). A leaf with yellow spots (disease). A leaf with brown edges (fungal). Insect icons: caterpillar, aphid, grasshopper.
• Meaning: Pests eat plants. Diseases discolor plants. Identify early.

Illustration 2.2 — RIGHT WAY: How to Check for Pests

• Image: Farmer inspecting leaves — turning them over to check underneath. Looking at stems. Checking for insects. A magnifying glass icon. Farmer checking every 2 weeks (calendar icon with 2-week mark).
• Green checkmark.
• Meaning: Check leaves (top and bottom), stems, every 2 weeks.

Illustration 2.3 — WRONG WAY: Common Mistakes

• Image: Farmer ignoring damaged leaves. Plants visibly eaten. Farmer spraying chemicals without protection. Farmer pulling all plants out instead of treating.
• Red X.
• Meaning: Don't ignore pests. Don't spray without protection. Don't destroy all plants.

Illustration 2.4 — STEP BY STEP: Natural Pest Control

• Image: 4 panels:
  • Panel 1: Identify pest — what is eating the plant?
  • Panel 2: Remove by hand — pick off caterpillars/insects
  • Panel 3: Spray neem oil or soap water (natural, not chemical)
  • Panel 4: Plant companion crops (marigold, onion) to repel pests
• Meaning: Identify, hand-remove, natural spray, companion planting.

Illustration 2.5 — REAL FARM EXAMPLE

• Image: Mozambican farmer (man, 45) in Cabo Delgado inspecting his cashew trees. He found aphids and sprayed neem oil solution. Trees recovering. He takes a photo with his phone to send to MBC agent for diagnosis.
• Meaning: This MBC farmer uses natural pest control and sends photos to his agent.

Illustration 2.6 — QUICK CHECK

• Image: Three leaves. A: green and healthy. B: holes from insects. C: yellow spots (disease). Which is healthy?
• Meaning: A is healthy. B has pests. C has disease.

Module 3: Weed Management

Illustration 3.1 — CONCEPT: What are Weeds?

• Image: A field with crops growing in rows. Weeds (unwanted plants) growing between the crop rows, competing for water, sunlight, and nutrients. Arrow showing weeds stealing food from crops.
• Meaning: Weeds steal water, food, and sunlight from your crops. Remove them.

Illustration 3.2 — RIGHT WAY: How to Weed

• Image: Farmer pulling weeds by hand or using a hoe between rows. Weeds placed in a pile (for compost). Soil loosened around crop base. Mulch (dry leaves) spread between rows to prevent new weeds.
• Green checkmark.
• Meaning: Pull or hoe weeds, pile for compost, add mulch to prevent regrowth.

Illustration 3.3 — WRONG WAY: Common Mistakes

• Image: Three mistakes:
  • Weeding too late (weeds already huge, roots deep)
  • Pulling weeds and leaving them (seeds fall, regrow)
  • Using chemicals that also kill crops
• Red X.
• Meaning: Weed early, remove weeds from field, don't use harmful chemicals.

Illustration 3.4 — STEP BY STEP: Weeding Process

• Image: 4 panels:
  • Panel 1: Weed when plants are small (2-3 weeks after planting)
  • Panel 2: Use hoe or hands — pull from roots
  • Panel 3: Place weeds in pile at field edge (for compost)
  • Panel 4: Spread mulch (dry grass/leaves) between rows
• Meaning: Weed early, pull roots, pile for compost, mulch.

Illustration 3.5 — REAL FARM EXAMPLE

• Image: Mozambican farmer (woman, 50) in Inhambane weeding her rice field. She uses a short-handled hoe. Her grandchildren help pull weeds by hand. Mulch visible between rice rows. Field is clean.
• Meaning: This MBC farmer weeds every 2 weeks with her family.

Illustration 3.6 — QUICK CHECK

• Image: Two fields. A: weeds taller than crops. B: clean rows, mulch between. Which is better?
• Meaning: B is better — clean rows with mulch.

Module 4: Water Conservation Techniques

Illustration 4.1 — CONCEPT: Why Save Water?

• Image: Left: rain falling on bare soil — water runs off, erodes soil, plants die. Right: rain falling on mulched soil with terraces — water soaks in, plants thrive. Water icons show: 80% retained vs 20% retained.
• Meaning: Conserve water so plants survive dry periods.

Illustration 4.2 — RIGHT WAY: Water Conservation Methods

• Image: Multiple techniques shown together:
  • Mulch (dry leaves/grass) on soil surface
  • Terraces on slopes (level areas with small walls)
  • Water channels (small ditches directing water to roots)
  • Contour planting (rows following land contour, not going downhill)
• Green checkmark.
• Meaning: Mulch, terraces, channels, contour planting = water stays.

Illustration 4.3 — WRONG WAY: Common Mistakes

• Image: Bare soil with no mulch. Rows going downhill (water rushes down). No terraces on slopes. Water pooling in one area (drowning plants) while other area is dry.
• Red X.
• Meaning: Don't leave soil bare. Don't plant rows downhill. Don't let water pool.

Illustration 4.4 — STEP BY STEP: Water Conservation Setup

• Image: 4 panels:
  • Panel 1: Spread mulch (dry grass/leaves) between plants, 5cm thick
  • Panel 2: On slopes, build small terrace walls with stones
  • Panel 3: Dig small channels to direct water to plant roots
  • Panel 4: Plant rows across the slope (contour), not up-and-down
• Meaning: Mulch, terrace, channel, contour = water saved.

Illustration 4.5 — REAL FARM EXAMPLE

• Image: Mozambican farmer (man, 60) in Tete province (driest province) with his sorghum field. Mulch between rows. Stone terraces on his sloped land. Contour planting visible. His field is green while neighbor's is brown.
• Meaning: This MBC farmer in the driest province keeps his field green.

Illustration 4.6 — QUICK CHECK

• Image: Two sloped fields. A: bare soil, rows going downhill. B: mulched, contour rows, stone terraces. Which retains water?
• Meaning: B retains water — mulch, contour, terraces.

Course 2 Complete: Growing. 4 modules. 24 illustrations.

Next: Course 3 — Protecting (Proteção)