Hunger. Hunger is defined as a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat. To suffer through lack of food. To have a strong desire or craving for.
In Guinea Bissau 93% of the population experience chronic hunger. According to 2013 research, only 7% of their population is considered food secure. Compare that to the United States, where 86% of households are food secure.
At Hope Remembered we want to see families thriving. We want to see communities equipped with the tools and resources to meet their own physical needs. We want them to no longer dread the seven-month dry season when crops die, and families go hungry. We believe this can happen through faithful stewardship of the land using the methods taught in Foundations for Farming.
Foundations for Farming (FFF) is an initiative that aims to bring transformation to individuals, communities, and nations through the faithful and productive use of land, rooted in biblical principles.
Here’s a summary of its key aspects:
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Origin and Philosophy: Developed by Brian Oldreive, a former Zimbabwean farmer, FFF emerged from a desire to address declining agricultural yields and poverty, emphasizing a “no-till” or minimal soil disturbance farming system combined with a worldview of faithful stewardship. It believes that poverty is often a stewardship problem rather than a resource problem.
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Core Principles (The “Package”): FFF combines a simple agricultural method with a robust management system and a biblically based message.
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Method: This includes minimal soil disturbance (no plowing), maintaining a mulch cover (no burning of crop residues), and crop rotations.
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Management Principles: These emphasize doing activities “on time,” “to high standards,” “with minimum wastage,” and “with an attitude of joy.”
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Message: FFF integrates Christian values like faithfulness, humility, and unselfishness, seeing farming as an entry point for addressing broader “heart” issues related to “Faith, Family, Farming, and Finance.”
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Activities and Training: FFF provides hands-on training and resources, teaching sustainable agriculture practices. They aim to equip individuals, from small-scale farmers with hoes to larger commercial operations, to increase yields, reduce input costs, and improve soil fertility. Their training often includes topics like soil health, plant population density, composting, agroforestry, and leadership.
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Impact and Reach: FFF has had a significant impact, particularly in Africa.
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It has been taught in over 40 countries, with established training centers in numerous African nations (e.g., Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda).
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The Zambian government formally endorsed FFF’s conservation farming principles in the 1990s, leading to Zambia becoming a grain exporter for the first time in its history in 2004.
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The Zimbabwean government partnered with FFF in 2020 to train millions of farmers in their “Pfumvudza” concept, which has been credited with bringing food security to the nation.
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