08/18/2019 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Last summer, ICC launched an initiative to develop 10 communal farms in Nigeria. Each farm sought to help 500-700 Christian victims who lost breadwinners, land, homes, or farms to Fulani militants. ICC provided everything the community would need to begin farming again, including land, equipment, seed, fertilizer, pesticide, sprayers, and even water pumps for irrigation. These farmers would be fully equipped to provide for their families again. The farmers simply needed to show up and farm!
Well, it’s been one year since our donors jumped in to fund the initiative, and we have built eight of the farms. The remaining two are fully funded and will be developed shortly.
As a result, since last summer, we have helped approximately 3,000 victims eat and provide for themselves. They have grown cassava, rice, cucumbers, green beans, peas, carrots, onions, and many other foods. Our farms are bringing dignity back to families that have lost almost everything.
In many cases, the families were forced to rely on others for sustenance. Now, they are not only feeding themselves but, through the sale of their produce, are also paying for their children’s school fees and medical costs.
Better yet, these farms are not a one-time project. The farmers are often able to replant parts of their harvests in subsequent seasons. We have already seen three of the farms move into their second season of planting with almost no extra costs to the families. Therefore, these families will be able to provide for themselves for years to come.
When asked what the farms have meant to him, one of the beneficiaries said, “You could have just given us money, but it would have run out. With farming, we are able to care for ourselves.” He further explained that if it were up to him, this is exactly what he wanted to be given. Christians in Nigeria do not want to have to continually ask for aid. They want to provide for their families themselves.
This has to be a project for the record books, as we are able to feed a victim and give them the means to support themselves for $30 for a whole year!
We are now moving into Phase II of this initiative and will be developing more farms soon. Stay tuned for updates about how you can continue supporting our persecuted brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
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