An Update on Our Agricultural Projects
POSTED ON Dec 11, 2009 / UPDATED ON Jan 27, 2011
COTN-MA Country Director Yobbe Lungu and Chichere Farm Manager Foderick Kapalanga
Children of the Nations operates three farms—one in Sierra Leone and two in Malawi—that support our ministry in many ways. Food grown on the farms supplements the diets of our children. Surplus crops, animal by-products, and livestock are sold to help fund other projects and programs, bringing Children of the Nations closer to the goal of establishing self-sustainable ministry.
The Chitipi Farm (Malawi) and Banta Farm (Sierra Leone) also help our children learn valuable life skills as these two properties are also home to COTN Children’s Homes. We realize that not every child will grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer; national transformation also requires village leaders and heads of families. By living on these farms and sharing in the workload, many of our children will develop the work ethic, knowledge, and ability to successfully manage their own farms and provide for their families when they grow up.
Here are the most recent updates we have received from the farms.
Chitipi Farm (Malawi, Africa)
The weather has been hot at 11-acre Chitipi Farm, near COTN–Malawi’s Njewa Ministry Center. The staff purchased 400 chicks, but seventy-two of them died from the heat because of transportation delays. Those chicks have been replaced, and the total is again 400. Along with the chickens, the farm owns two sows and has recently hired a boar to breed them. Green maize and tomatoes are being sold, but tomato prices are low because of an abundant supply at this time of year. The farm has also been having trouble with goats and chickens from surrounding villages damaging crops. Current needs at Chitipi include a wheelbarrow and reliable transportation for large quantities of crops.
Banta Farm, (Sierra Leone, Africa)
The staff of the 50-acre farm at COTN–Sierra Leone’s Banta Ministry Center has planted seven acres of upland rice, which they hope will yield 175 bushels. At fifty kg (110 lbs) per bushel, that adds up to 8,750 kg (19,250 lbs)! Eight acres of swamp rice are also being cultivated, with an expected 240-bushel yield. The farm currently owns fifteen goats, seven sheep, twenty-five chickens, and nine ducks.
Chichere Farm (Malawi, Africa)
COTN–Malawi’s 350-acre Chichere Farm has suffered a bit due to the hot, dry conditions and several equipment—especially tractor—malfunctions. They were able to bring in a decent October harvest of green maize, tomatoes, eggplants, rape, cabbage, and green peppers, but a general increase in supply for several of these crops has hurt profits. Livestock numbers continue to increase, and there are now seventy-seven goats and four cows on the farm, all of which are healthy. In the tree nursery, 1,000 seeds of acacia trees and 1,000 eucalyptus seeds have been planted, which will be sold when they grow. Our staff hopes to plant 3,000 more trees in the nursery by the end of the 2009/2010 season. Please pray for rain—the fields have been prepared for it, but it is late in coming.