Christian Aid Appeal to Congregations Over Crop Uncertainty

As the season of harvest approaches, Christian Aid is urging congregations to think of those who face crop uncertainty as a result of climate change.

The charity is appealing for people to stand with farmers in Malawi who have had to move away from traditional planting patterns and switch to new crops to survive.

Frank, a farmer in Malawi, was taught a planting calendar by his grandfather based on the regular seasons – but the ever-changing climate means he can’t depend on this knowledge any longer. He used to rely on growing maize to feed his family, but this crop is now unsuited to Malawi and fails easily when the rains don’t come.

When the drought ruined the harvest, Frank’s four-year-old son became critically ill and he had to carry him on foot to the hospital four miles away. Frank was told that his son was severely malnourished.

The Evangelical Association of Malawi, a Christian Aid partner, has been helping Frank and his family to thrive in such hostile conditions. Frank has now successfully grown a special variety of pigeon peas. This crop is high in protein and its deep roots are ideal for southern Malawi’s dry soil, as it can resist the destructive flash flooding which is on the rise in the country.

Frank has already had a bumper crop of pigeon peas, but he still hasn’t been able to make a profit, as many farmers like him work individually and often lack the space to effectively store their peas. This means they have no choice but to sell their harvests to unscrupulous middlemen, traders who buy at farm gates and drive prices down to the lowest level.

This project hopes to bring farmers together into Farmers’ Clubs, where they will learn vital business skills and work together to plan their planting to ensure a good balance of crops. They’ll learn marketing techniques and new methods for production and storage of pigeon peas, and they will be trained in negotiating fair prices for their crops.

For Frank, this could mean he is able to make a profit – enough to feed his family and even send his four children to school.

Ferryhill Parish Church in Aberdeen is one of the many churches supporting this year’s Harvest Appeal. Ann Ralph who is the Christian Aid co-ordinator there said: “Throughout the year and at Harvest time, we collect food for local food banks and, as in previous years, we will be supporting Christian Aid’s Harvest Appeal.  We know that we have people struggling on our own doorsteps and our farmers have many challenges.

“Scotland has a special relationship with Malawi and many of our churches in Aberdeen have had partnerships with Churches in Blantyre Presbytery and some of us have taken part in exchange visits. We have been able to see first-hand the struggle some families have to feed themselves and the difficulties farmers have to produce crops when faced with floods one season and drought another.”

To find out more about how you or your church can get involved this harvest, please visit www.caid.org.uk/harvest.

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