Grain Silo & Yam Barn

Mozambique Humanist Community Garden

Members: Altaf Baba, Alif Eka, Badru Yassine, Amaciao Bilal, Anson Beny, Celio Elsa, Chilton Chrispen, Daan Sofia, Delson Eka, Everly Gift, Ikbaal Idris, Joshua Isabel, Bongani Coos, Daan Gaunda, Yassin Sharif, Ridwan Mansur, Menino Da llda Alirio, Arlo Tsane

Email: aldertakatu@gmail.com

Phone: +2586054372674

What does humanism mean to your group?

For many of our members, our turning point for disbelieving in our religion of Islam and its God (Allah) and becoming secular and humanist is the emergence of political Islam in Mozambique. This version of Islam is demonic and evil and chaotic. Even Muslims are not safe, in fact. Muslims are the first victim of this brand of Islam. Humanism to us means the employment of critical reasoning, logic and secularism as the light that guides our actions and behaviour towards one another. It encourages us to see all humans as equal regardless of their sexes, race and tribe. It also helps us to dispel our irrational culture that is heavily influenced by religion and this seems sane to do because Religion is the mother of all extremism and believing Anything without proof is a landslide to stupidity and folly.

Project Description

The Mozambique Humanist Community Garden, located in Cabo Delgado, serves as a critical food security and community empowerment initiative led by the local humanist movement. With support from HuMAN, this proposed project aims to significantly improve the farm’s post-harvest management and long-term sustainability by constructing three essential infrastructure components: a grain silo, a yam barn, and an on-site composting system.

These facilities are designed to address key challenges in the farm’s production cycle:

● Grain Silo: To safely store maize, sorghum, and other grains, protecting them from pests, spoilage, and moisture damage. This will extend the shelf life of harvested crops and enable the community to control when and how they sell or distribute grain, reducing losses and increasing food security.

● Yam Barn: A traditional-style but improved yam barn will facilitate proper aeration and storage of yams post-harvest. This will prevent rot, reduce waste, and allow for staggered marketing and consumption.

● On-Site Composting Facility: To promote soil health and reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, an on-site composting system will be established. Utilizing crop residues, kitchen waste, and animal manure, the composting facility will produce organic fertilizer to enrich the garden’s soil, improve yields, and close the nutrient cycle sustainably.

Together, these developments will strengthen the Mozambique Humanist Community Garden’s capacity to manage both post-planting and post-harvest processes more efficiently. The infrastructure will reduce crop losses, improve food preservation, enhance soil fertility, and increase income opportunities. This project is a vital step toward achieving long-term agricultural self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in one of Mozambique's most vulnerable regions.

By integrating traditional knowledge with practical infrastructure improvements, the project aligns with humanist values of cooperation, dignity, and sustainability empowering the local community not just to survive, but to thrive.

Budget

Cement (3 bags) – $30

Bricks (200 pcs) – $28

Timber planks (10 pcs) – $32

Nails (2 kg) – $6

Iron roofing sheets (6 pcs) – $36

Steel wire mesh – $12

Wooden poles (10 pcs) – $22

PVC rain gutter (2 meters) – $6

Hinges for doors (4 pcs) – $5

Earthworm Spp - $50

Watering Cans - $30

PPE gears - $23

Door lock & handle – $4

Roofing nails – $3

Tarpaulin sheet (for silo cover) – $10

Bamboo (10 stalks for yam barn) – $15

Chicken wire (5 meters) – $9

Plastic barrels (2 pcs for composting) – $18

Shovel (1 pc) – $8

Hand saw (1 pc) – $7

Compost bin frame (wooden slats) – $10

Paint (small can for protection) – $8

Sand (3 wheelbarrows) – $9

Gravel (2 wheelbarrows) – $8

Sisal rope (for tying structure) – $4

Clay pots (for grain moisture control) – $6

Metal sheets (for silo base) – $14

Brick mesh (for compost walls) – $7

Charcoal powder (for compost odor control) – $4

Plastic sheeting (for lining compost pit) – $9

Wood sealant/oil – $6

Plastic buckets (2 pcs) – $5

Ventilation pipe (for silo air circulation) – $6

Total - $450

Expected Income

The construction of the grain silo, yam barn, and on-site composting system is projected to significantly enhance the productivity and profitability of the Mozambique Humanist Community Garden. By reducing post-harvest losses previously estimated at 30–40% due to spoilage, pests, and inadequate storage the community will be able to preserve a much larger portion of its harvest. With proper storage and extended shelf life, the garden can now stagger the sale of produce, avoiding the low prices of immediate post-harvest gluts and selling instead when market demand is higher.

It is estimated that the improved storage facilities will increase usable harvest output by at least 40% annually. For example, with proper grain storage, maize and sorghum yields valued at approximately $2,500 annually can now be protected, stored, and sold for up to $3,500 due to reduced losses and better timing. Likewise, yams previously vulnerable to rot can now be safely stored and sold throughout the year, increasing income from yam sales from $1,200 to $2,000 annually.

The composting system will also reduce input costs by producing natural fertilizers on-site, saving an estimated $300 annually on external fertilizer purchases while improving soil fertility and future yields. Overall, with all components functioning effectively, the community garden is expected to increase its net income from approximately $3,700 to $6,000–$7,000 annually within the first full harvest cycle post-construction representing a 60–90% increase in farm profitability. These earnings will contribute directly to community welfare, reinvestment in the farm, and humanist development goals in Cabo Delgado.

Timeline of Completion

This project is designed to be completed over a three-month period from the start of construction, assuming availability of labor and materials as planned:

● Month 1 – Site Preparation and Foundation Work
 The first month will focus on preparing the construction sites for all three components. This includes land clearing, leveling, and laying foundations for the grain silo and yam barn. Basic compost pit design and space allocation will also be completed during this phase.

● Month 2 – Construction of Grain Silo and Yam Barn
 With foundations in place, construction of the grain silo and yam barn will be undertaken simultaneously. Structures will be built using durable, locally available materials, and roofs will be installed by the end of the month. Compost bins will also begin to take shape during this period.

● Month 3 – Finishing, Compost System, and Testing
 Final touches such as ventilation installations, painting, sealing, and installing doors or covers will take place. The composting system will be finalized, and initial composting activities will begin. A trial run of storage systems will also occur to ensure readiness for the upcoming harvest.

By the end of Month 3, all components will be fully functional. Training and orientation for the community on proper storage, compost use, and maintenance will also be conducted. This short, efficient timeline ensures that the improvements are in place ahead of the next major harvest season, allowing the community to begin realizing income gains almost immediately.

Benefits to Community

Reduces post-harvest losses by providing safe storage for grains and yams, increasing food availability.

Boosts income by allowing farmers to sell produce when prices are higher, rather than immediately after harvest.

Improves soil fertility through on-site composting, leading to better crop yields and reduced need for chemical fertilizers.

Promotes food security and sustainability by preserving more of the harvest for community use year-round.

Strengthens community resilience by supporting local farming, creating shared infrastructure, and building cooperative management skills.