Poverty is Africa’s giant, yet it is a continent rich in natural resources, with beautiful people, vast landscapes, biodiversity, minerals, and so much more. Agriculture in Africa is practiced with very poor standards, with severe crop failure that can largely be attributed to drought and a lack of adherence to the simplest of agricultural practices.

Africa consists of 900 million people, 80% of which live in rural areas. The continent’s population currently exceeds agricultural growth and has the highest proportion of malnourishment. Yet amidst this poverty, sub-Saharan Africa has very fertile soil and good rainfall. Political and socio-economic conditions in Southern Africa have left many farmers with good land, but unskilled in basic farming procedures. This is where the Lord has provided answers – a tool to train farmers at the grass-roots level.

After much prayer and intercession, God revealed to Brian Oldreive of Zimbabwe how we should be “caretakers” of His creation. The Lord showed him ‘Farming God’s Way’ - the way the church should be gearing itself towards doing things in His way, His time, to His standards of excellence, without waste and with joy.

Luke 8:15 “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

“Farming God’s Way” (FGW) is an initiative for preaching the Gospel, strengthening and planting churches and extending the Kingdom of God with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture as a model for life (and heart) transformation of individuals, communities and nations. It is an expression of God and His ways that includes all people, not just farmers.

Trans World Radio - Zimbabwe has recorded programmes that are aired daily from Swaziland. This adds a new dimension to our commitment to give listeners practical advice on farming which can be best understood with biblical principles outlined in God’s Word. Cross referencing with our present English transmissions, TWR hopes to build a new listening audience covering Swaziland, much of South Africa and parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and Zambia.

By transferring FGW skills targeting mainly poor peasant farmers, people are able to turn their farms into viable ventures. Families can be fed, profits can be made and farms can become worthwhile businesses passed down as an inheritance from generation to generation.

Published 23 October 2007