Self-Sufficiency through Farming

Over the last several years 11 million people in East Africa have been suffering from one of the worst droughts in the region in the last 50 years.  In some regions up to 30% of the population is malnourished and 70% of the cattle that many tribes depend on for food and milk have died.  Unfortunately, food production in East Africa is almost wholly dependent on cyclical rain, and the countries in the region often find it necessary to purchase food from other countries to feed their people.  The high cost of purchasing food causes the government of Kenya to be drained of funds for almost every government program for six months of the year.  Essential services such as the provision of pharmaceuticals are frequently interrupted for that time period.  The cost of the prevention of starvation is devastating to these economies.   As part of our goal of providing for the needs of the people of this region, the East Africa Partnership has begun a program to reverse the cycle of drought and famine.

The Kenyan and Tanzanian governments have agreed to grant the East Africa Partnership between 100,000 and 300,000 acres of land free of cost and a reduction in taxes until the venture is profitable.  We have many goals in cultivating this land.  First, we are hoping to help East Africa become self-sufficient in providing food for the people of the region.  We would like to demonstrate the use of modern farming techniques, including irrigation, use of tractors, and a three-crop rotation cycle.  The food produced by this venture will provide better nutrition, particularly among the Masaii people, who live primarily on the byproducts of their cattle and goats: meat, blood, and milk.   Finally, we are anticipating an opportunity to address the growing problem of joblessness, especially among the youth.  Cultivating this land will provide jobs for hundreds of people. There is dignity in work and the ability to support their families.  The governments of Kenya and Tanzania are also planning to sign contracts to buy the produce from these lands at market value providing a constant buyer for the crops cultivated. These governments can then provide food for their people and sell the excess to surrounding countries.

Unfortunately, crop production in Kenya and Tanzania is not currently enough to feed the population of those countries because it is tied to the availability of seasonal rains.  Huge tracts of arable government land lie fallow because there is not enough rainfall in those regions to support traditional agriculture or because the government does not have the resources to farm the land.  The Partnership has embarked on a plan to drill water wells in these areas to support irrigation, making the best use of the land for the benefit of the people of East Africa.  A primary goal is to assist Kenya and Tanzania to become agriculturally self-sufficient, freeing them from the need to import food.  This will provide them with a stable food source for their population and save them millions of dollars in purchasing food to relieve famine.  By using modern irrigation techniques the land will support three crop cycles in a year independent of natural rainfall.  Tractors will be used effectively on the larger tracts of land making them capable of cultivating 25 acres per day or 750 acres per month.  We have been offered tractors with all the necessary attachments for our farming operation for $20,000 per tractor.  Assuming the government allocates 50,000 acres per year, we would need to furnish 66 tractors and attachments at a total cost of $1,320,000.  By using water wells and modern equipment, we will be able to produce a consistent amount of food for the people of East Africa.

We have teamed with Staff of Hope and PCEA to drill the wells required for irrigating the land.  They have agreed to drill these wells and would be repaid through the profits of selling the water for drinking, as well as for irrigation. In order to irrigate the land, an additional cost of $500,000 will be necessary to install irrigation tubing. Collection systems for rainwater will also be employed to minimize water usage. Some of the land in the regions which will be under cultivation belongs to the Masaii tribe.  Easily recognized by their bright red garments, dangling earlobes, beaded jewelry, and intimidating spears, the Masaii are nomadic herders.  They sustain themselves on the byproducts of their cattle and goats exclusively. The major food groups of their diets are meat, milk, and blood.  A steady supply of grains, vegetables, and other crops in their region will allow the Masaii to supplement their diets with vital nutrients, preventing several nutritional diseases and malnutrition, especially among children.  As an added bonus, a steady food supply will allow the Masaii to provide for their families without the long nomadic trips currently required by their lifestyle. Since farming is stationery work, their children will have the opportunity to attend school.  The government began providing free primary school education in 2004.  When we visited a primary school and entered a kindergarten classroom, we were surprised to find Masaii men and woman, at least 20 years old, learning the alphabet with elementary grade students.  The Masaii are so eager for education that they are willing to endure the embarrassment of joining a kindergarten class as adults.  This farming venture will provide the food that will allow the Masaii to send their children to school, well-nourished and ready to learn.

In an area oppressed by an unemployment rate of almost 40%, one of the most important things that can be done is to create jobs aiding in the economic development of the region.  50,000 acres will supply 250,000 jobs for laborers and additional jobs for mechanics, tractor operators etc. in regions where the jobless rate approaches 50%.  Local workers will be employed for all stages of the cultivation process, and both the crop production and the employment will be year-round.  In the beginning the workers will be paid with food and given a share of the profits once the crop is sold.   Eventually, we would like these workers to assume the responsibility of these plots for themselves by paying the Partnership a small lease fee and rent for the tractors that we will own.  This collaboration will allow the local people to produce their own food and take ownership of the project while still providing income for the East Africa Partnership.  Should the program be successful, we will continue to expand with additional land grants, working the land for a few years before entrusting it to the local workers.

Famine, poverty, and a lack of education are three of the most important underlying problems in African countries.  This project addresses the issue of food production, assisting the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to become self-sufficient as they depend less on seasonal rains or suffer during severe drought.  It will provide jobs to many local people and will eventually empower them with their own land to work.  It will allow members of the Masaii tribe the benefits of a well-balanced diet and an education for their children.  Addressing these underlying causes will allow the countries of East Africa to take ownership of their destinies, strengthening their people and their regional economies while weakening their dependence on aid supplies from other countries.  The cost of this program is $2,000,000 per year for five years.  At the end of five years, we will have created 1,500,000 jobs and provided the local population with the pride of having a piece of land to work for oneself.  The governments of Kenya and Tanzania would be self-sufficient with food.  There would be 350 new wells for clean water and the incidence of water borne diseases would be drastically reduced in these regions.  Any profits would be recommitted to these regions in the form of schools or health centers.

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