The Liberia UMC will establish farmer groups who will learn skills like beekeeping. This hive, built and maintained by the Rev. Joe Gatei in Ganta, Liberia, has long supplemented the pastor’s income. PHOTO: MIKE DUBOSE, UMNS.

Global Ministries board of directors approves $1.34 million for new agriculture projects in African episcopal areas to enhance food security, livelihoods and financial sustainability.

By Christie R. House
November 6, 2021 | ATLANTA

Directors of Global Ministries approved grants for the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative for annual conferences in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the October 2021 board meeting. Grants ranging from $166,000 to $265,000, for a combined total of $1.34 million, will support the episcopal areas as they establish new agricultural projects, including crop and livestock farming on church-owned land.

In spring of 2020, Global Ministries established an agriculture initiative for Africa, responding in part to the urging of the vice president of Global Ministries at that time, Bishop John K. Yambasu. Sadly, in August 2020, Bishop Yambasu died suddenly in a car accident outside Freetown, Sierra Leone. The board of directors honored the bishop by naming the agriculture initiative after him. Directors approved the first grant for Sierra Leone last year and continue that support into a second phase with a second grant.

The Bishop John K. Yambasu Agriculture Initiative recognizes that the combined land holdings of United Methodist annual conferences across Africa present an opportunity for them to move toward more self-reliance. Partnering with United Methodist annual conferences, Global Ministries supports commercial farming activities with the ultimate goal of enhancing food security, increasing household incomes and promoting the generation of revenue at the annual conference level.

Earlier this year, the Mozambique Episcopal Area received a Yambasu Agriculture Initiative grant for the Cambine Mission Agriculture Station. Agricultural missionary John Nday, and his wife, Florence Kaying, a missionary nurse practitioner, are assigned there. This project, which continues into 2022, supports farmers with training, access to improved seeds and tools, crop diversification, animal husbandry, year-round production opportunities, increased market access and processing machinery. As Cambine increases agricultural production, it trains other farmer groups to do likewise.

The UMC in Mozambique received a Yambasu Agriculture Initiative grant to increase vegetable crops, like cabbage, as well as cassava, pigs, cattle and fruit trees at Cambine farm. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOHN NDAY, CAMBINE

Grants for new projects

At the October 2021 meeting, Global Ministries directors approved agriculture initiative grants for the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West conferences, the Liberia Annual Conference, and the Central Congo and North Katanga conferences in the DRC.

The first phase of Sierra Leone’s project has been completed, with cultivation of 140 acres of rice, seven acres of vegetables and the installation of a piggery enterprise. By establishing farmer groups at several locations, 2,520 persons across 360 households benefited in this first phase of the project.

The next phase focuses on post-harvest handling and value addition and marketing, while promoting multiple production cycles through proceeds from the first phase. The conference will reinvest its earnings to cover the cost of seed and tools for subsequent cycles of production.

The Zimbabwe Episcopal Area received grants to develop farms in both its annual conferences. Zimbabwe West Conference will focus on Nyadire, Hanwa and Waterloo farms, while Zimbabwe East will focus on Mutambara, Hartzell and Nyakatsapa farms. In both areas, increased agriculture production, chicken raising and training for farmers with small holdings in more resilient, climate-smart farming practices will increase the income of church-owned farms and contribute to the financial sustainability of the church and its programs.

The Liberia Episcopal Area plans to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to increase productivity, improve food security and generate income – resulting in poverty reduction, sustainability, self-sufficiency, economic growth, and development for both the community and the conference.

Funding will support the training of 200 farmers in newly formed community farmer groups in three enterprises: renovation of production infrastructure and establishment of new facilities; scaling up livestock and beekeeping; and improved market access for participants and the wider community.

Central Congo Annual Conference, DRC, plans intensive agricultural development activities for income generation, producing primarily three crops at commercial scale and selling at affordable prices. The income generated by the project will enable the church to implement other projects over time.

The project will provide direct support to farmer groups through land preparation, seeds and training, and serve as a market (or promote marketing) for their produce. The local community will also benefit from the project through jobs and increased income.

Kamisamba Agriculture Training Center in North Katanga, initiated several years ago by the UMC episcopal area, trains communities in crop production and processing, marketing, administration and project development. Initiatives have helped community members identify their potential and develop their livelihoods through farming and entrepreneurship efforts. Missionary agriculturist Lorraine Charinda from Zimbabwe directs the farm’s activities.

Lorraine Charinda (left), the missionary agriculturist with Kamisamba farm in Kamina, North Katanga, DRC, will often receive gifts of produce from farmers when she is conducting workshops in the communities. Farmers who received skills, knowledge and start-up supplies at the demonstration farm find tangible ways to say thank you. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LORRAINE CHARINDA

This funding will support an initial cultivation cycle at Kamisamba Farm, establishing a seed production enterprise and serving as a model training center for expansion to farmer groups at four surrounding conference-owned farms in the next crop cycle. Revenue from seed production at Kamisamba will directly support the North Katanga Conference, with production by farmer groups contributing 15% of yield to the conference.

Continuing work in 2022

In 2022, the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative plans to increase the ability of episcopal areas and annual conferences to build on current sources of revenue and to seek and manage funding from other donors or investors. In addition to improved household livelihoods and food security, as participants find welcome in the church through community trainings, church membership may also grow. Directors approved an appropriations budget of $1.25 million for the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative in 2022.

The Bishop John K. Yambasu Agriculture Initiative can be supported through a gift to Advance #982188.

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

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