It began on a farm in Zimbabwe in 1982 when commercial farmer, Brian Oldreive, found himself under increasing financial pressure due to a decline in yields, caused by the conventional farming methods he was using. With childlike faith Brian went into the virgin bush and sought the Lord’s face for a solution. Brian began to observe nature’s way of growing things, which Brian then applied to growing crops. He noticed that in nature there is a wonderful protective mulch layer of fallen leaves and dying grass, and no deep soil inversion (ploughing), so he began to experiment with Zero-Tillage methods on a small section of his land. There was an immediate increase in yields.
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1 v 20
The system was so successful that every year from then on, the farm made a profit. Each year, Brian began farming more and more of his land using the Zero-Tillage system. Within six years all 1,000 hectares was being farmed using this method and became so profitable that neighbouring farms were also purchased, bringing the net cropping area to 3,500 hectares. The Lord placed a burden on his heart to teach this simple technology and implementation management system to the impoverished small-scale farmers surrounding him and his ministry of Farming Gods Way was born! Little did he know at the time, that a continent was about to be changed because of his faithfulness to Jesus!
It was a difficult road challenging tradition, culture and witchcraft – It became clear to Brian that teaching farming methods by itself was not enough. There can be no behaviour change without a heart change so that is why FfF teachings are clothed with the character of Christ (His Humility, Unselfishness and Faithfulness) to redeem the heart of fallen man.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
I Cor 10 v 31
A team began to grow around Brian as Craig Deall came alongside to serve as armour bearer growing Foundations for Farming into a formidable training movement in Zimbabwe.
Craig assumed the leadership of the movement, developing an ever-growing team of trainers capable of sharing the heart, vision and technology of Foundations for Farming far and wide. Consequently, by the Lords sovereign grace, the movement spread beyond borders of Zimbabwe into most of Africa, and now even the first world.
In 2015, Crown Financial Ministries, led by Chuck Bentley, joined hands with us bringing his considerable influence and passion to forge an authentic and genuine partnership, that grows to this day from strength to strength. The “I was Hungry” (I Was Hungry | …for a real solution to poverty.) programme was born out for this partnership – A training model that envisions farmers biblically in the areas of Faith, Family, Farming and Finance, to wholistically transform the heart of man. Agriculture is a wonderful entry point for the Gospel and does not merely deal with household food security, stewardship of the land, but also stewardship of the fruit of the land – Finances.
The 4 F’s of “I was Hungry”:
In 2015 I Was Hungry launched to support the combined training efforts of FfF and Crown.
A Breakthrough Economic Solution for Africa Led by Crown Financial Ministries, Foundations for Farming and Bridge2Rwanda.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6v38
Foundations for Farming International has since been taught (initially as Farming Gods Way before a name change in 2009) in over 40 countries in Africa, with established training centres in Zimbabwe (the source) South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia, DRC, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda with many more being established yearly.
The Lord then called FfF into the first world and now there are entities in USA, Canada, Latin America, UK, Netherlands and more on the way.
The Foundations for Farming methodology was first recognized and adopted at national scale by the Zambian Government in 1995 with funding from the World Bank. In 2004 Zambia became a grain exporter for the first time in that nation’s history.
In 2009, FfF partnered for the first time with the FAO to teach agricultural methods which allow self-sustainability to thousands of farmers in Zimbabwe. Since then, FfF has implemented numerous projects in Zimbabwe working together with the FAO, WFP, UNICEF, USAID and others.
In 2011 the FfF team in Zimbabwe developed Pfumvudza a concept which can bring household food security on a mere 1/16th of a ha. This has been implemented successfully all-around Africa and has become a household name.
The Zimbabwean government formed a partnership with FfF in 2020 to equip 1.8 million farmers in Zimbabwe to implement the FfF method of CA popularly known as Pfumvudza (“New Season” in Shona) FfF received a Presidential Commendation from the Zimbabwean President in 2021 for bringing food security to Zimbabwe during the 2020/21 season.
The Rwandan and Madagascar governments have subsequently embraced Foundations for Farming as a national policy.
Foundations for Farming International stand by to serve the nations of the world!