João has lived in Mozambique all his life and has been farming for more than 30 years. Despite physical disabilities that often require him to use a wheelchair for mobility, the father of seven has long done what he can to support his family through subsistence farming. Still, for many years, the harvests from his land were not enough to meet his family’s basic needs.

Like many farmers in his community, João relied on traditional farming methods that left crops vulnerable to erratic weather and long dry seasons. “My farming was not enough to take us through the dry season,” João recalls. “This changed when Growing Hope reached into my community through World Renew.”

Learning New Ways to Farm

Through the Growing Hope program, farmers in Melaleuca were invited to take part in training on conservation agriculture—approaches designed to improve soil health, increase crop productivity, and help communities adapt to changing climate conditions. At first, João was hesitant.

“I thought they were wasting our time,” he admits. “But as time passed, I started seeing other farmers showing great improvements, so I joined the monthly sessions.”

During the training, João learned new planting techniques, soil management practices, and ways to grow crops more efficiently using available resources. These methods were designed to help smallholder farmers increase yields while reducing risk, particularly during periods of drought or unpredictable rainfall.

At the end of the program, João and other participating farmers received agricultural starter kits to help them put what they had learned into practice on their own land.

From Harvest to Hope

João decided to apply his new skills to a non-traditional variety of cassava. “The results were surprising,” he says. “I did not expect cassava stalks to grow that fast and produce so much more than the traditional variety that I had been using.”

Encouraged by the early success, João expanded his efforts. He planted the new cassava across nearly two hectares of land. “I was not disappointed with the results!” he says.

His harvest produced more than enough to meet his family’s needs. For the first time in years, João was able not only to feed his household consistently but also to share surplus cassava with relatives. Just as importantly, he began passing on his new knowledge to others in the community, demonstrating techniques and encouraging fellow farmers to try new approaches on their own farms.

“I hope World Renew will continue training farmers so that everyone will have enough food on their tables!” João says. Reflecting on the changes he has seen in his life and community, he adds, “World Renew is a true gift from God.”

Through practical training, locally appropriate tools, and farmer-to-farmer learning, programs like Growing Hope help families build resilience—starting in their fields and extending all the way to their tables.