Conservation Agriculture and 'Farming God's Way'

MCC in southern Africa is utilizing a farming technology based on conservation agriculture to address issues of food security. It has potential to significantly increase productivity by utilizing low-till mulching methods with local resources. Yields have been known to increase by ten fold with crops such as maize, soy beans, sorghum, wheat, groundnuts, beans, cowpeas, and vegetables.

Pictured in this photo are James and Joan Alty, (MCC Reps for South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland) together with Lois. They are standing by a demonstration plot called a 'well-watered garden'. The maize and beans you see utilize only mulch as a fertilizing base while at the same time improving the soil condition. James is strongly encouraged by the impact this methodology has had on productivity yields and is promoting it in conjunction with our work in the area of HIV/AIDS. Having access to adequate nutrition is essential for people using ARV's to combat the disease and to be able to live normal lives. This technology would appear to significantly increase the food resource available to the community without any significant increase in input costs.

About 28 years ago a Zimbabwean farmer developed this specific methodological approach based on conservation agriculture incorporating environmental stewardship, good management, minimal wastage and utilization of natural and locally available resources. Growing out of a Christian context it is called  'Farming God's Way' and attempts to articulate a stewardship of the land based on Biblical principles. It is now utilized in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa in conjunction with MCC programming.