In Advocating for More Sustainable Agriculture, Prelate Appeals to Each Parish to Have One Acre Farm
In Advocating for More Sustainable Agriculture, Prelate Appeals to Each Parish to Have One Acre Farm
By Sr. Henriette Anne FSSA
Ahead of World Food Day (WFD) marked on October 16 annually, bishop Eduardo, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio (CDTY) appeals to all Parishes and institutions under CDTY to have one-acre farms during this rainy season in order to have food surplus.
Basing his reflection on the book of Genesis 2:15, he said, “The Lord took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Therefore, I, the Bishop of the diocese of Tombura Yambio am calling upon all of the Parishes and Institutions under my diocese to start a one-acre farm (or more as per your capacity) during this rainy season. In so doing, we shall have food in our houses, and even have a surplus to give to those in need including the vulnerable among us”. He continued, “The Bible in Proverbs 12: 11 further states the importance of farming by saying that; ‘’those who work on their land will have abundant food…’’ Therefore, let us purposely make a conscious effort in starting to farm in earnest by creating not less than one acre of the farm so that there may be food in the institution and parish. The produce from these farms can further be converted into money for our benefit”.
In his June 26, 2023 statement, the Catholic Bishop noted that the donor’s support is dwindling and therefore they need to change their mindset and face reality.
“With dwindling support from funding partners in Europe and the USA, we need to call on the support of those who benefit from our work to stand with our policy of diocesan reconnaissance or paradigm shift of our mindset to face the monster already devouring us each day”, he explained.
To achieve this thought, he gave the following direction for July – October planting season;
“Parishes to open One Acre obligatory for your given place of work and the one Acre of land must be within the official church-leased land. One Acre is an obligation by this directive to make it realized by any given parish or institution. This directive does not prevent creativity of any place should they wish to do more than one acre. He added You are allowed to use Sunday collections twice a month from July to November 2023 to support the realization of this initiative. Parishes or institutions are allowed to make special fundraising to finance this project. This call is open also to any creative and effective chapels, Centers or quasi-parishes, or small institutions. The Crops to be planted on the Acre farm will be determined by the nature of the land in that designated plot. We suggest maize, sesame, sorghum, beans, or G/nuts. Will be waiting for feedback on this enterprise from the responsible of their allotted places. The first report on farming activities will be expected in the first week in the month of October. A Parish Food Security Taskforce must be established to monitor every progress at every stage. Reporting and updates must be to the faithful or members every week”.
He further said that relief and donation are not the solution but improving productive activities like cultivation will raise the standards of people, “I firmly believe that relief and charity are not the solutions. My premise is that to raise the standards of living, people need to improve their own productive activities – in this case, cultivation, livestock, and fishing. That is why I am directing all parishes and institutions to promote this paradigm shift or deliverance from a bad mindset.
He also suggested that an exchange program be organized where all the products of all kinds can go around in exchange and at the same time encouraging the building of houses and handing over to the poorest who cannot afford to own a house.
He added, “we are privileged in this part of the country to have fertile land that receives rain that enables us to farm and eat from our farms. Let us not shy away from farming and embark on this practice in earnest. I suggest that we consider planting crops like; maize, beans, groundnuts, cassava, rice, potatoes, and any other that will yield fruits for us”.
To execute this program and bring out true development and a change in people’s minds, the prelate stressed to all the stakeholders not to give anything for free since this gesture makes them become independent and lose dignity, he continued, try and fathom the real need of each parish and her people in the selection of crops which they find comfortable to plant and to make sure that there is full participation of all parishioners so that they take ownership of their farm.
On the issues of funding, he said, “we can execute this noble project by soliciting help from our Christians (in the case of Parishes) and from the members of our institutions e.g. students. I am also directing that we keep aside offerings for two Sundays and use them for the purposes of farming. From the offerings, we can be able to purchase seeds, and clear and plow the land. When we start farms, the promises of God in Deuteronomy 16:15 will be our portion, and the Lord will bless our harvests so that we shall have bounty harvests. The Lord will also bless the work of our hands so that we shall be joyful in His name”.
