At the Covenant College theological training institute in Zambia, future pastors receive agricultural training. As pastors, they will receive no or too little salary. So they are so-called tentmakers: they do the work in the congregation as well as providing for themselves. They often do this with a small farm. Besides theology, they therefore also receive agricultural training on the farm near the college. An additional advantage is that the students learn skills to be able to give their congregation not only Bible teaching but also agricultural education.
From diaconate Catharina van Valen and Marlien Budding visited this project in Petauke in Zambia. They were given a tour of the farm.
The produce from the farm is used first and foremost as food for the students. On the land, they grow potatoes, tomatoes, turnip greens, maize and sunflowers. Furthermore, pigs are kept. Pregnant sows walk outside to scavenge. When they are due to farrow, they move to a stone pen. With our support, this has been raised and fitted with a metal roof, making it easier to clean. The elevation of the walls ensures that the pigs have more fresh air in summer. In addition, the roof creates a shaded area and prevents the animals from standing in water during the rainy season.
A fish pond has been created. Over two thousand fish have been stocked in it. The water has to be changed every three days. The dirty water is used for the garden, especially for the banana trees, which need a lot of water.
Thanks to solar panels, which we donated, the hammer mill and oil press can also run. The hammer mill is used for grinding maize. Villagers are allowed to have their maize ground for free. The maize leftovers are used as feed for the pigs. Local people are also allowed to have their sunflowers pressed for free. The sunflowers provide oil for their own use and for sale. The leftovers are again used for the pigs.
In addition, hundreds more saplings are grown for the community. These are given to people in the villages. Everyone is allowed to bring five saplings to plant in their own village. In this way, people are made aware of deforestation and something is actually done about it. Trees are necessary. The roots ensure that the much water that falls in the rainy season stays in the upper soil layer.
Catharina and Marlien were impressed by the farm. A lot of great things are happening here, both in training students and providing livelihoods for their own community and the wider community.
