A Zimbabwean Green Revolution: Farming God’s Way

Written by Alden Braul and Vurayayi Pugeni

With assistance from United Church Canada and Canadian Foodgrains Bank, farmers in the Nkayi District of Zimbabwe have been implementing a farming system known as “Farming God’s Way”. What is it that makes this farming system so unique to deserve such a title? Have all the other farming methods come short of God’s standard?

This revolutionary method of agriculture sweeping across southern Africa does not intend to become the ultimate authority on how to farm. Rather, the objective is to put back some of the faith into farming by helping small African farmers make simple observations of God’s untouched creation and apply them to maize production. During training courses, farmers take note that the land surrounding their cultivated maize fields is covered with a permanent mulch that protects the soil from erosion and moisture loss. Farmers then learn how the mulch (God’s Blanket) can be used to improve their maize production using a modified system of zero tillage. The fact that there is a spiritual dimension connected to the livelihood of farming increases the credibility of this farming system.

Mrs. Ncube (pictured above) first learned about Farming God’s Way from her sister who was part of a pilot program in their community implemented by Christian Care. In the second year of the program, Mrs. Ncube received training and a small packet of open pollinated maize seeds to plant a plot using the principles of Farming God’s Way. The crop produced over 3 times the yield of the field where she used traditional farming methods.

Mrs. Ncube’s success is linked to her willingness to follow the four simple principles that define Farming God’s Way – on time, at standard, without wastage, and with joy. She prepared her land and planted her crop on time to maximize the benefit of the early rains. She did everything according to a specified standard which included a weed clean field and correct plant density. Given the scarcity of manure, Mrs. Ncube was very careful not to waste any of this precious plant food. She carefully placed two handfuls of manure in the planting stations before seeding her crop. Mrs. Ncube’s radiant smile is living proof than she has done all of this with joy.

Farmers like Mrs. Ncube are changing the landscape of African agriculture and constructing their own definition of a Green Revolution. The principles begin with their resources, capacities, and gifts.

(For more information on Farming God’s Way, see the founder’s website at www.farming-gods-way.org