The value of Mother Earth can never be underestimated! Every human being depends on the gift of the earth for their survival. Every one of our basic needs has its basis in the earth. Agriculture is one of the practices that help us to recognise and strengthen the bond that unites us with our Creator in his daily providence. By adopting a system of subsistence farming, we can not only provide for our own household, but also extend a helping hand to others. In doing so, we are sure to promote the major agenda proposed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si, namely:
– Responding to the cry of the eart
– Response to the cry of the poor
– Ecological economy
– Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
– Ecological spirituality
– Community involvement and participation
The rate of poverty and economic inflation in Nigeria today calls on every household to be creative, resourceful and intelligent in their daily activities in order to overcome the severity of this challenge.
We, the sisters of the Ogbomoso community in Nigeria, in a follow-up to Laudato Si’, have found in subsistence farming a sustainable way of increasing our production and staying healthy.
Eating natural foods is ideal for boosting our immune system, rebuilding worn-out cells and keeping us naturally healthy. We grow and take good care of our food crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables and fruit. We also enjoy palm trees for their rich nutrients. We look after our crops by removing unwanted plants, mulching and moistening the crops during the dry season. Apart from yams, cassava is a crop with a high consumption rate in Nigeria: it can be processed into different forms of food, such as cassava flour, garri, foo-foo, etc. to be eaten with a soup rich in vegetables, fish and other food ingredients.
This year, certain regions of Nigeria, including Ogbomoso, experienced late rainfall, which affected the growth of certain crops such as cassava, maize, etc… Our fruit crops are doing very well. We like to eat them straight from the source and share them with those around us. With the current harmattan dew (wind from the Sahara, very hot during the day and very cold at night), we hope to get a better yield from the food and fruit crops, such as mango and avocado trees, which are already flowering abundantly.
We’ve come to really appreciate the gift of nature! The different stages and seasons that our crops respond to in order to grow and bear fruit are another opportunity to study their life cycles in concrete terms. We rejoice every time we harvest one or other of our crops for our meals. We always do so with a heart grateful to God for his providence. We will continue to ‘touch the soil’ for as long as we are able.
As well as farming, we take the time to look after our environment by collecting and burning the dry leaves that fall from the fruit trees during the harmattan season, which can sometimes harbour reptiles. This makes our environment more beautiful, gives us fresh air to breathe and provides clear paths to walk along during the day.
We urge all those who have the privilege of ‘touching the land’ to adopt this practice in order to experience a new relationship with their environment, the people, in a serene atmosphere. This form of subsistence farming helps to reduce the high cost of produce, to have enough food not only for one’s own consumption, but also and above all to share with those who do not have enough.
Sister Patience Effiong, DHS. Community of Ogbomoso Nigeria. Published on 24 December 2024
