PROMOTION AND SYMBOLISM OF GESWANI PHILOSOPHY
PART ONE: FOUNDATION
The foundation of Geswani’s philosophy was that of Confucius. Both envisaged short-, medium-, and long-term plans corresponding to livelihoods and food security; environmental sustainability; and social intervention, respectively. The impact would be economic emancipation in a healthy environment.
Confucius said, “If you think of one year, plant a seed, specifically the Chinese staple, rice.” Geswani, on his part, said, “Plant this year, what you will eat next year, or get what you will eat tomorrow, in advance.” The latter required a farmer to farm all year round; other workers to work all year round; and investments to yield all year round
Consequently, Geswani farms season after season while he pracised shifting cultivation. He shuttled among Boklui, Atsiatsa, and smaller parcels of land closer home and those beyond Agali stream at Kpotavi and Avega. As the nearer lands became exhausted, he bequeathed them to women and the younger generation while he moved farther to luxuriant and more fertile plots.
Agriculture in Dzodze traditional area revolves around maize. From time immemorial, when a day passes without eating the maize meal of akple, one is considered not to have eaten at all. The starchy staples, legumes, and vegetables mentioned earlier are cultivated in rotation or intercropped with maize. These food crops are featured in Geswani’s philosophy in the short term. Rice was not prominent in his diet and farming program except when he stayed at Likpe for a few years.
During his time, the crops were landraces, generally called local varieties, and were pest and disease-tolerant. Chemical use was minimal or nonexistent. However, drought occasionally threatened the farming venture. Because of that, he did not joke with the major-season maize crop. He considered the major season’s work as supper that no one should skip as maize was more vulnerable to drought in the minor season. The strategy he used was to plant early-maturing varieties in the minor season. And notwithstanding the longer growing period in the major season, Geswani would stagger planting should there be prolonged rainfall intervals. Part two describes his ten-year plans.
Timeless clean perfume
