For Malawi's vice president, ministry's 'V-tractor' is an answer to prayers
WWW.MALAWIPROJECT.ORG
VP meets V-tractor - Malawi Vice President Joyce Banda tries out a Village Tractor, or V-tractor.
VP meets V-tractor - Malawi Vice President Joyce Banda tries out a Village Tractor, or V-tractor.
Joyce Banda, vice president of this southern
African nation, considered a recent visit with representatives of a
church-supported ministry to be “one of the best days of my life.”
Banda got a firsthand look at a Village Tractor, or “V-tractor,” a compact farming tool that can irrigate, fertilize, weed and cultivate land. Tom Rich, owner of a manufacturing company in Lebanon, Ind., invented the V-tractor and has donated a few to the people of Malawi through the Malawi Project, an Indiana-based nonprofit supported by church members.
A board member referred to Rich’s invention as “the Swiss army knife of tractors,” said Dick Stephens, one of the Malawi Project’s founders.
Banda, Malawi’s first female vice president, has received awards for her work in developing sustainable methods to combat hunger in her nation. As Rich demonstrated the V-tractor, “I said to myself, ‘Well, my prayers have been answered,’” Banda said.
The vice president has acquired land to produce crops for orphans and poor women farmers. Most work the land by hand, suffering “pain and other ... body-devastating effects,” Banda said. She has requested additional V-tractors from the Malawi Project.
“If we are helped with 10 V-tractors, this means that we will reach out to 30,000 households, translating into 300,000 people,” she said.
Stephens seeks funds for four V-tractors to be delivered to Malawi by spring.
To contribute, contact www.malawiproject.org.
Banda got a firsthand look at a Village Tractor, or “V-tractor,” a compact farming tool that can irrigate, fertilize, weed and cultivate land. Tom Rich, owner of a manufacturing company in Lebanon, Ind., invented the V-tractor and has donated a few to the people of Malawi through the Malawi Project, an Indiana-based nonprofit supported by church members.
A board member referred to Rich’s invention as “the Swiss army knife of tractors,” said Dick Stephens, one of the Malawi Project’s founders.
Banda, Malawi’s first female vice president, has received awards for her work in developing sustainable methods to combat hunger in her nation. As Rich demonstrated the V-tractor, “I said to myself, ‘Well, my prayers have been answered,’” Banda said.
The vice president has acquired land to produce crops for orphans and poor women farmers. Most work the land by hand, suffering “pain and other ... body-devastating effects,” Banda said. She has requested additional V-tractors from the Malawi Project.
“If we are helped with 10 V-tractors, this means that we will reach out to 30,000 households, translating into 300,000 people,” she said.
Stephens seeks funds for four V-tractors to be delivered to Malawi by spring.
To contribute, contact www.malawiproject.org.
From the January 2010 Print Edition.
ON THIS PAGE
Full Story | Map | Comments
Full Story | Map | Comments
WHERE IN THE WORLD
READERS RESPOND
The Chronicle welcomes and encourages
feedback that promotes thoughtful and respectful discussion. Letters and comments should be 750 characters or less and may be edited for length or clarity. Comments to the print or online edition are considered to be letters to the editor and may be published.
Thank God for the V-tractor project. The impact is huge. Making people self reliant and work effeciently. Rising the profile of the church in Malawi in the eyes of the Government. Truly a city on the hill!
God bless those that are behind the project.
 |
Charles Chimpeni Redcross Church of Christ Blantyre, BT - Malawi January 29, 2010 |
feedback that promotes thoughtful and respectful discussion. Letters and comments should be 750 characters or less and may be edited for length or clarity. Comments to the print or online edition are considered to be letters to the editor and may be published.
NEWSLETTER
ADVERTISEMENTS
ADVERTISEMENTS
