A BMS relief grant of £12,000 last September helped to fund a project led by our partner organisation in the country to assist communities in a province of north west Afghanistan, which is repeatedly affected by severe drought.
The grant provided ten tonnes of wheat seed to 50 farmers in one valley and a further ten tonnes of seed to 50 farmers in a neighbouring valley.
According to initial monitoring reports all the seed was sown before the start of the winter snow. In areas where there was irrigated land and seed was sown in good time, there is already good root growth.
This project marks the start of a three-year programme to monitor and evaluate improvements in drought-resistant seed, and to train farmers to manage seed stocks and recycle seed loans within their communities.
The wheat seed distribution is one part of a wider drought response programme, led by a BMS development worker, to help the very poorest families in the province.
Other initiatives, financed by several international donors, have included food aid, health and nutrition advice, income generation schemes and agricultural training sessions.
Gordon McBain, Regional Secretary for Middle East and North Africa says, “From time to time you hear stories of how a relatively small amount of money makes a massive difference to the lives of those who are suffering.
“This is such an example. Please pray that this work will continue to be a testimony to practical ways that the love of Christ can be shown.”
The BMS worker leading the project there explains, “We seem to be getting a mild but reasonably wet winter, which has let the grass and wheat start to grow, and holds out hope of a good year for farmers and animals.
“The wheat we loaned to 100 farmers is sprouting. The food rations, which we distributed to about 300 of the worst-off families, were well received and arrived before winter snows.
“And the ‘cash for work’ projects, which are intended to make improvements in water management and agriculture for next year, are in full swing.
“There are about 14 different projects on the go, which means several hundred men are working together when they would otherwise have been sitting and waiting for winter to end.”
Projects like these can only happen because of the generosity of BMS supporters. To give to our relief appeal and help thousands of people around the world in desperate situations following conflict or natural disasters, click
here. Thank you.