Farming, faith and impact in zambia

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By Tracy Blackmer

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While Iowa farmers have finished their harvests, the planting season in Zambia is in full swing. Unlike Iowa, where the season is driven by soil temperature, Zambia’s main planting season is dictated by rainfall, creating a period of intense focus for local farmers.

A few weeks ago, I made my third trip to Zambia to meet with our agricultural trainers. The sense of anxious anticipation among farmers was palpable, and the enthusiasm among the trainers—many of whom are pastors or connected through church networks—was even greater.

Our project focuses on Zambia’s very poor, often categorized as subsistence farmers, providing improved management training to significantly increase their corn yields. Research confirms that higher yields are possible, and our goal is ambitious: help farmers triple their typical yields simply by adopting better agronomic practices.

Because extreme poverty limits communication and learning to local, person-to-person interactions, working through churches is the most effective way to bring about lasting change. These trusted local networks are already embedded in every village.

Last year, we reached about 2,000 villagers. This year, the geography has expanded dramatically. Our target is to reach 10,000 villagers through a much more intensive training program, including at least four sessions throughout the season.

My recent visit was deeply rewarding. I watched trainers teach their congregations and neighbors with competence and passion, delivering lessons that will be life-changing for many. The pastors carry a sense of pride and confidence in the meaningful change they are bringing to their communities.

This project reinforces a powerful concept in Christianity: helping the poor not just through material aid, but through education and training—teaching a person to grow corn much better. While material assistance is important, my experience in Zambia confirms that training has the greatest and most lasting impact per dollar spent when it comes to improving corn production by subsistence farmers. By partnering with church leaders, we are maximizing our impact and helping communities transform their own futures.