In Oregon or Illinois or Nebraska or Kansas or California, we take university agricultural research programs and the county extension services for granted. The system of result-oriented research and a knowledge distribution network make American farmers among the most productive in the world.
Recent round-table meetings of "stakeholders" interested in transforming the agricultural economy of Bandundu province identified improving agricultural education, revitalizing ag research programs, and restoring an extension service dedicated to advising farmers (rather than picking their pockets) as three key areas for immediate investment. Forty years of lip-service, and Congo still doesn't have a research and extension service that helps farmers to produce more, with less effort, while conserving (and perhaps improving) the soil for future generations. You already know one of the results: traditional farming every year fails to feed one out of every three or four children adequately.
For the moment our calling is to plug the knowledge and input gap that contribute to hunger. But ACDI Lusekele would not have been able to do this without the support of the Food Resource Bank. These Christian partners in North America have made it possible for more than 100 village farmer's associations to work closely with a trained extension agent nearly once a month. This gives Congolese farmers quality seed, timely advice on best cropping practices, and a channel to innovations that are coming down the pike.
The interesting thing about the Food Resource Bank is that it is a partnership between Christians in urban congregations and Christians who make their living from farming. City Christians put up the money for what it takes to grow a crop: seed, fertilizer, fuel, for example. The Christian farmers put up the land and provide the equipment. When the crop is harvested, the congregations get together for a celebration of God's goodness the proceeds go into the Food Resource Bank. The Bank uses the money to support responsible church programs (like ACDI Lusekele) that are fighting for food security and improved livelihoods in rural areas of poor countries.
Last year these team efforts between urban and rural churches in North America contributed over $21.000 to our extension efforts in the Vanga area. This year, $26.000 is providing over 900 extension visits to farmer's groups, part of the 15.000 high-yielding palm seeds distributed in September, support for peanut and cowpea testing, and cuttings for disease-resistant manioc multiplication fields. Because of this partnership over a hundred villages have at least a rudimentary extension service sharing a few good ideas that can make big differences in farm families' lives.
Your church might be interested in becoming part of the Food Resource Bank's program, either financing a mission crop or contributing your land and farming know-how to produce a harvest that pries open the door to new opportunity and new hope for poor farmers in places like Vanga.
Check out: http://www.foodresourcebank.org
Bev Abma, the FRB's executive director of programming, visited Lusekele this week to see how their support benefits farmers. She said she would love to hear from anyone interested in more information.
E-mail: bev@foodresourcebank.org
Mail: 2141 Parkview, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-3925
THANKS, Food Resource Bank people.
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