“Orant respectfully serves and collaborates with our community in a sustainable way.”
The End of Plenty Book Review
The Race to Feed a Crowded World
Author: Molly Horn
![](https://orantcharitiesafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/End-of-Plenty-Book-Review-768x432.png)
Has the Green Revolution Failed?
The work of Norman Borlaug was supposed to feed the world. Father of the Green Revolution in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Borlaug developed varieties of wheat that were resistant to disease, drought, pests, and other natural forces, allowing farmers across the world to reap a higher yield from their crops and earn more income, feeding more people the world over. He had no way of knowing, however, that his work would lead to crop bioengineering, which today means that corporations can patent seed variants and control what farmers are allowed to grow and sell, especially in developing countries.
Smallholder farmers across the world have seen their profits sink as they come into competition with agriculture giants like Cargill, Bayer, and Monsanto. The vast majority of crops planted in the United States now go to feed the animals that we eat. 70% of American farmland is used for feed for cattle and pigs, rather than being used to feed the human population. The same is increasingly being seen across the world, where crops are grown to feed animals for meat, rather than to feed humans themselves.
Climate change is catastrophic for farmers
In addition to the mega-farms, climate change is forcing many farmers off their land as drought strikes and they can no longer grow enough crops to sell, or as flash flooding washes away a year’s worth of effort and precious topsoil along with it. The worldwide push to slow down global warming is often met with pushback from those who either don’t believe the science of climate change, or who stand to profit from the practices that cause climate change in the first place.
What could the future look like?
In the End of Plenty, Joel K. Bourne Jr. offers a picture of the future we could have if organic farming becomes the norm, and small farmers are able to feed their families and make enough profit to keep their business going. Even crops that are raised with only partially organic techniques succeed where conventional farming fails. Inexpensive drip irrigation becomes the standard and farmers the world over see their crops succeed. This is the future we could have if we want it – a world where there is enough food for everyone, where toxic pesticides no longer poison the groundwater, and a world where global warming is slowed and even potentially reversed.
How is Orant working toward this goal?
The Orant Agroecological Farm is a test plot on Orant’s campus in Kasese in which we are piloting natural farming methods that are good for the environment and for people’s health. Now, after the first year, the plot is very productive, already producing new banana shoots and papaya fruit and much more! Stay tuned for more updates on our Agroecological Farm and more stories from the field!
The Orant Journal
Water Well Maintenance
At the heart of Orant’s programs and initiatives is sustainability, which is also one of our values. We believe in not only implementing programs or initiatives but also in creating long-lasting change that will continue to serve our community. In today's blog article, we talk about why we perform maintenance on water wells and how it contributes to the sustainability of our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program.
The Village Chief’s Vital Role
Ever wondered why we always mention village chiefs and their involvement in Orant’s work? If yes, then today’s blog article is for you! In this article, we talk to Village Head of Kasese Village in Dowa, who tells us about her duties and why her involvement with Orant is important. Read today's blog article to learn more.
Evolution of Orant’s FEM Program
At Orant, we are committed to supporting local entrepreneurs, especially women. This is what spurred us to start our Financial Empowering Microloans (FEM) program in 2017. However, we came to realize that our program participants needed more comprehensive support to achieve sustainable growth. This is why we are excited to announce the evolution of our FEM program into what we now call Business Development Program!. Read our latest blog to learn more about this evolution.
Unwrapping the Flavours Of Malawi: Champunga Mkati Recipe
It's been a while since we last shared our Malawian recipes and we know you have been missing them. This week, we are back with yet another delicious recipe called Champunga Mkati. We are not sure of its English name but let's call it Malawian rice dumplings. Read our latest blog to learn more about this tasty snack recipe.
Of 20 Orant sponsored students who sat for the Malawi School Certificate of Education Examination (MSCE) last year, 18 qualified for University, and we are thrilled to announce that 14 have secured places at public universities! Of the 14, two are boys and 12 are girls. Read our latest blog and learn more about what this means to Orant.
Orant Nyali Yanga Poetry Competition: Unlocking Creativity
Some weeks ago, we opened our Orant Nyali Yanga Poetry Competition as a way of encouraging creative expression in Dowa Secondary School Students. We are excited to announce that the competition is still open and the deadline has been extended to July 15th! Read our latest article to learn more about the competition, what it means to us and how important it is to the schools and communities we work with.
Our Healthcare team is dedicated to improving the overall well-being of people. As part of this effort, this week we are conducting a nutritional assessment to all children aged from 6 months to 59 months and pregnant and lactating mothers in our catchment area. In this week’s blog post, we will explore the importance of this initiative and how it will benefit our community.
Poetry Competition
Let your light shine with our new poetry competition for secondary school students in Dowa district!
Celebrating Nurses: Unsung Heroes of Healthcare
On May 12, 2024, we celebrated International Nurses Day, a special occasion aimed at celebrating and recognizing this noble profession. During the occasion, we were also thrilled to have been recognized as the Best Nurses in the Central East zone of the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM)! Read today’s blog article to learn more about what this means to our team.