Faith and Farming Thailand

"How do people in your area view farming, positively or negatively?"

"What does the Bible say about farming?"

"Is agriculture a blessing or a curse?"

These were some of the questions we asked during the Faith and Farming workshop we did in Thailand. From the conversations that followed, it became clear that there is a negative view of farming and farmers in the different Asian countries. Living as a farmer is seen as a life of poverty, a necessary evil from which you need to escape as quickly as possible.

This fact also shows the importance of the Faith and Farming workshop we offered. We talked about how God intended agriculture, about farming and about farmers in the Bible, but also about practical considerations: a healthy soil, what fertilisers to use, the importance of trees and making compost. Each module started with God's Word and connected that with the everyday life of farmers. The participants were challenged to actively engage with the Bible and apply it to their own lives and challenges.

The more theoretical modules of Faith and Farming were interspersed with practical sessions organised by the staff of ECHO Asia, the location where we offered this course. These sessions included composting, stimulating soil life, making biochar, preserving seeds, producing animal fodder and building a biosand water filter.