Henry Kagweya stands out in his village. His neighbours often express amazement that, despite his age, Henry—a 75‑year‑old farmer and retired pastor—is able to consistently provide food for his household. He credits his success to conservation agriculture techniques he learned through a local farmer field school supported by World Renew and its partners.

Henry explains that practices like minimum tillage have made a significant difference in his daily work. “Considering my age, it would be so difficult for me to open even up to an acre of land using the deep tillage method that we used to do in the past. Now that I have learned a better way of farming, I start my gardening activities early.”

Preparing for an Unpredictable Season

Two months before the rainy season begins, Henry starts preparing his land for planting—something that often surprises those around him. “The community members around me wonder why I’m wasting time yet the rain has not started,” he says. “My wife and I keep on encouraging them that the dry period is for land opening while the rainy season is meant for planting.”

This approach helps Henry make the most of a short and unpredictable growing season, reducing strain on his body while improving productivity on his land.

Passing Knowledge to the Next Generation

Henry and his family currently tend two acres of cassava for household use. Looking ahead, his goal is to expand to five acres: enough to sell some of the harvest while continuing to feed his family. Just as important to him is sharing what he has learned. Henry is teaching these methods to his 10 children and hopes his example will encourage others in his community.

“My family shall remain a light for other families to ensure that conservation agriculture is carried forward to the next generation,” he says.

A Prayerful Outlook for East Africa

We give thanks for the resilience of communities across East Africa as they face ongoing climate challenges, including prolonged drought. Even in difficult conditions, we see opportunities to strengthen local knowledge, deepen partnerships, and support sustainable livelihoods for the long term.

Please continue to pray for wisdom, perseverance, and hope for farmers, leaders, and families as they work toward food security and restored creation in their communities.