“Let’s pray before we talk about the farm,” she said. “Dear lovely God you are our care-taker, in all these times we praise you for your goodness, thank you for taking care of my family, I pray that you continue to bless us in these difficult times, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
She paused for a moment and looked at the field. “This has been a good season for us here in Pukuka, we have seen progress, and God has been gracious,” she began.
Her gratitude may come as a surprise to some people. Poverty levels in South Sudan are shocking. The region has suffered from over 25 years of civil war. Thousands of families were displaced for decades and this has greatly reduced farming knowledge and skills.
“I encourage my friends and neighbors to praise God more and more for the blessings He is giving us.”
Even though South Sudan is currently experiencing a time of peace, most farmers only produce enough food to last them eight months of the year. The other four months, families survive on very little – scavenging, hunting, and gathering wild plants.
The war has also left physical side effects. This includes mental health issues caused by trauma, blindness, amputations, and many other disabilities.
Like so many of those who survived the civil war, Edna has a disability that makes farming difficult. She was also abandoned by her husband and struggles with chronic poverty. To make matters even worse, her husband raises livestock and sometimes brings his goats to graze on Edna’s property. Last year, they destroyed some of her crops and left her with even less to eat.
If faced with similar circumstances, many of us would feel anger or despair, but Edna is a determined farmer with a strong faith.
In 2015, Edna joined a World Renew agriculture recovery program. This program is funded through World Renew’s Canadian Foodgrains Bank account and is aimed at working with poor, disadvantaged, and disabled men and women who are supporting their families by farming. One of the key strategies it uses is Farmer Field Schools.
Farmer field schools are groups of farmers who meet for one day every month to learn from each other and participate in practical training sessions. World Renew is working with 27 farmer field schools – about 700 farmers – across South Sudan. This includes Edna and 23 other farmers in Pukuka.
Edna has received seeds and tools from World Renew. From her Farmer Field School she has also learned new techniques such as crop spacing for improved growth and easier weeding.
She is already seeing results from these lessons. “I planted 20 lb of peanut seed and harvested over 400 lb. I also harvested 400 lb of corn in that same season, which is much more than before,” she said. Edna also keeps ducks and she grows millet and sorghum.
World Renew will continue to work with Edna and the Pukuka farmer field school in 2016, and stand with Edna as she solves these family problems to prevent further crop damage. In the coming year, the Farmer Field School will learn about ways to improve the quality of the soil.
For now, however, Edna is grateful for what God has provided. “I encourage my friends and neighbors to praise God more and more for the blessings He is giving us.”
On March 6, many churches across Canada will be holding a Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday offering. Your gifts towards World Renew’s account at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank will make it possible for programs like this to continue so that more people such as Enda can be helped.
