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AFRICA PROJECTS
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE (MALAWI)​
The soils of Malawi are very depleted in nutrients and farmers are harvesting less and less food from their fields. Changing climate also means unusually heavy rains which flood the fields, or prolonged dry spells where there is no rain and the food crops shrivel. The net effect is that many subsistence farmers have less food for their families. People are hungry for many months of the year.
NCM Canada is working in partnership with NCM Malawi and with Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help farmers learn new and improved methods called “conservation agriculture” that will increase their food yields. Digging planting holes and filling them with compost helps retain moisture and supplies needed nutrients to the plants. Intercropping with legumes and using them as a groundcover between the rows of maize (corn) fixes nitrogen (from the air) and makes it available to maize crops and also provides shade for the soil during droughts.
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Farmers clubs are formed in each community where farmers practicing conservation agriculture come together weekly at the church for a Bible study, prayer and discussion of farming issues. Neighbouring farmers notice the increased yields and begin to adopt the methods. Neighbouring villages notice the increased yields and new methods and ask the church to bring conservation agriculture to their village. Whenever conservation agriculture spreads to new community, a church is planted!
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Cost to train one farmer is about $60
Seed for a demonstration plot is about $30
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (MALAWI)
A Child Development Centre (CDC) typically serves 75-100 children and is housed in our Nazarene church buildings for children in the community, particularly the most needy.
Activities are designed to meet the childrens’ physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs. Activities are usually an after-school program that provides additional tutoring and help with homework, cultural and social activities, sports and games, Bible stories and songs and a nutritious snack.
Books $6 each; Teaching supplies $120 ; School supplies per child $25. Sports and play equipment $30; Nutritious snack per child $4.
Each gift will be used as designated except where any given need has been fully met or in the case when the specified project(s) cannot be reasonably carried out, then the donor agrees that the designated gift may be used where it is needed most.