Food and Agriculture Africa

 HOW THE CHURCH CAN SUPPORT FARMERS(Part 2) by Katharine Norton (Ireland) and Yunana Malgwi (Borno, Nigeria). 11) Praying for rain: In times of drought or flood the church can organise special prayer meetings to pray for farmers. This can include teaching on the importance of trees to prevent erosion and other good farming practices that help during drought. 12) Workshops: Churches can host farming workshops during quieter farming periods to teach and train farmers about godly ways of conducting business, caring for God’s creation on their farms, and looking after animals in a godly manner etc. 13) Finances: Churches can set up financial help groups to train farmers in business and finances e.g. how to budget well for the year, when money comes in all at once after harvest. These groups can also help farmers to have financial stability during the planting months before harvest. 14) Theology: The church can encourage farmers to share their unique insights i...

  HOW THE CHURCH CAN SUPPORT FARMERS.(Part 1) by Katharine Norton (Ireland) and Yunana Malgwi (Borno, Nigeria).    When we read the Bible we see that there are many, many stories about farmers and farming. God planted the garden of Eden; King David was a shepherd boy, Jesus told many agricultural parables etc. Here are some ways that the church can support farmers all year round. 1) Sermons: There are many opportunities to speak encouragingly about farming as a career during sermons by drawing out the many agricultural themes in the Bible. 2 ) Giving thanks for food: When a pastor is asked to give thanks at a meal e.g. a wedding, a church celebration, they can remember to thank God for the farmers who grew the food. 3) Consulting farmers: Many church yards are swept bare despite the fact that we worship a God who started His ministry with humans by planting a garden! Pastors can ask advice from farmers about what plants to grow in church yards ...

      TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GROW YOUR FOOD.   1.    Your farm food Tastes Better - You can taste the difference. Fresh food simply tastes better. Your fresh vegetables will taste better than the ones bought from the market..   2. Local Produce is Better for You - The fresher the produce, the more nutrients it retains. Food picked right from the ground and eaten will be healthier for you than food that has traveled thousands of miles just to sit at the market. 3. Backyard Farms can cost less than the market - On average, a 4-person family spends around N2000 a week on tomatoes, pepper and vegetables. To start your vegetable backyard farm costs less than N500 and you begin to harvest your leafy vegetables in less than 30days. Simply do a calculation on how much you spend on buying tomatoes, pepper and vegetables and compare it to how much you will need to start a small vegetable garden in your compound. To start a small vegetable ga...