United Methodists in Eastern Angola have launched an agricultural initiative that is transforming communities and reshaping lives.
Maria Cadir, 71, has seen how the Eastern Angola Annual Conference’s program has changed not only her life but that of others in Nguvu Massango Lau Village, where she lives. It has boosted agricultural output and self-sufficiency, and the benefits extend beyond farming.
“The proceeds from our harvest make it easier to provide medical care, support our children’s education, and reduce hunger in the community,” Cadir said.
Backed with funding from General Board of Global Ministries , the program has supported food security and cattle breeding projects. More than 600 families have been trained, assisted, and equipped with agricultural inputs, leading to improved livelihoods, greater resilience against hunger, and sustainable community development.
Through the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative, families that once struggled to afford seeds due to rising market prices have achieved food security and avoided famine, which is a problem in Eastern Angola. Projects unfold in different phases so that experience and learning increases and further projects can be refined and adapted to fit local conditions in the regions.
The conference’s objectives are to strengthen beef production and support the communities of the Kimbamba area, near Malanje, while building a sustainable and independent church through agriculture. Communities benefit from agricultural extension services, receiving training in best practices and seeds for groundnuts, vegetables, and staple crops.
Addressing Family Challenges
“In 2023, the project was linked to two main objectives: food security, aimed at supporting the communities in the Kimbamba District, and livestock farming, which is considered a long-term project,” said the Rev. Jeovanni Mendonça Mendes, project coordinator. “We began with 51 head of cattle to benefit families in several communities and today that number has grown to 63.
“Through the projects, we managed to develop infrastructure and empower the coordination team,” he said. “Their involvement throughout the process was magnificent. Families were supported with improved seeds like corn, groundnuts, beans, and vegetables, which ensured a richer and more stable diet. This addressed family challenges such as the ability to take children to the hospital, support their education, and improve their homes.”
Providing “Living Insurance”
Kutela Katembo (Advance #3022031), agricultural expert and a Global Ministries Global Missionary, explained the resilience livestock brings to communities.
“The Yambasu project distributed herds of pigs to families, enabling them to own live assets that have become a natural financial reserve. During the recent dry season, these animals were a decisive factor in the communities’ resilience.
“Unlike many crops that can be completely lost in a single drought or flood, livestock is more mobile and resilient to moderate climate fluctuations,” he explained. “It serves as a form of living insurance.”
In Maria Cadir’s village, the distribution of pigs has been a boon. “We were able to increase the number of pigs in the neighborhood, which benefits everyone who participated,” she said.
“We also managed to preserve seeds for corn, groundnuts, beans, and vegetables,” Cadir continued. “Because of that, we no longer need to buy seed, and the money we used to spend has been diverted into other meaningful activities.
“To this day, the inputs we received continue to help us in our farming activities,” she added. “They have become the foundation for our resilience and growth.”
That knowledge transfer is important, according to Katembo.
“We have helped communities maximize land production by imparting skills in new crop techniques and introducing modern tools,” he said. “Technical support is just as vital as financial investment, because people can learn how to adapt to new crops and sustain their progress.”
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excerpt from a story by Kudzai Chingwe, communicator for Zimbabwe East Conference and Gilberto João Augusto Guedes, director of Studies and Projects Eastern Angola Annual Conference
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