Agriculture / Food Security

Many communities live with the knowledge that this year's harvest may fail and a 'hungry season' will follow. In Malawi there is an annual hungry season where last year's crops have been consumed, but next year's crop is not ready for harvest. This happens in a country where the soil is rich and water is in good supply. Education and new farming techniques can provide assurance of a steady food source.

Another common problem is that while people may eat their 'fill' each day, they are simply not getting the dietary variety the human body requires to avoid becoming malnourished. Food security programs are designed not only to assure a steady supply of food but diverse cropping mechanisms to ensure a variety of foods and to enrich the soil and preserve the environment.

There are a range of projects that provide training, micro-loans and expertise to assist communities to develop more sustainable practices and much better crop returns.

Another example of an asset that brings a range of security benefits is a goat. If properly tended, it can multiply, provide milk and can be sold for cash when money is required. Owning a goat, or any other asset, has a significant impact on the wellbeing and status of a poor person. Suddenly they have a piece of security, which in turn gives them a sense of dignity, pride and hope that their future is not as bleak it may have been.