Confessions of an Economic Hitman

Hi!

I have just finished reading a very disconcerting book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins (ISBN 009190910-4). The book tells a story of collusion between the American Government,  USAID, the World Bank and large American Corporations to expand the American empire across the globe using debt, deception, enslavement and exploitation to achieve the most blatant resource grab in history.  No wonder that America's foreign policy has been such a dismal failure.

Very disconcerting reading, but I a book that I would highly recommend!

Regards

Another Prophetic Word for Africa!

Before we left for Zimbabwe, the Holy Spirit gave me a prophetic word for Africa out of Ezekiel 36:1-15.  These verses from the Message translation reads (I changed Israel with Africa):

(Eze 36:1)  "And now, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Africa.  Say, 'Mountains of Africa, listen to GOD's Message.

(Eze 36:2)  GOD, the Master, says, because the enemy crowed over you, "Good!  Those old hills are now ours!"

(Eze 36:3)  now here is a prophecy in the name of GOD, the Master: Because nations came at you from all sides, ripping and plundering, hauling pieces of you off every which way, and you've become the butt of cheap gossip and jokes,

(Eze 36:4)  therefore, Mountains of Africa, listen to the Message of GOD, the Master.  My Message to mountains and hills, to ditches and valleys, to the heaps of rubble and the emptied towns that are looted for plunder and turned into jokes by all the surrounding nations:

(Eze 36:5)  Therefore, says GOD, the Master, now I'm speaking in a fiery rage against the rest of the nations, who in an orgy of violence and shameless insolence robbed Me of my land, grabbed it for themselves.'

(Eze 36:6)  "Therefore prophesy over the land of Africa, preach to the mountains and hills, to every ditch and valley: 'The Message of GOD, the Master: Look!  Listen!  I'm angry - and I care.  I'm speaking to you because you've been humiliated among the nations.

(Eze 36:7)  Therefore I, GOD, the Master, am telling you that I've solemnly sworn that the nations around you are next.  It's their turn to be humiliated.

(Eze 36:8)  "'But you, Mountains of Africa, will burst with new growth, putting out branches and bearing fruit for my people Africa.  My people are coming home!

(Eze 36:9)  Do you see?  I'm back again.  I'm on your side.  You'll be ploughed and planted as before!

(Eze 36:10)  I'll see to it that your population grows all over Africa; that the towns fill up with people; that the ruins are rebuilt.

(Eze 36:11)  I'll make this place teem with life - human and animal.  The country will burst into life, life, and more life, your towns and villages full of people just as in the old days.  I'll treat you better than I ever have.  And you'll realize that I am GOD.

(Eze 36:12)  I'll put people over you - my own people Africa!  They'll take care of you and you'll be their inheritance.  Never again will you be a harsh and unforgiving land to them.

(Eze 36:13)  "'GOD, the Master, says: Because you have a reputation of being a land that eats people alive and makes women barren,

(Eze 36:14)  I'm now telling you that you'll never eat people alive again nor make women barren.  Decree of GOD, the Master.

(Eze 36:15)  And I'll never again let the taunts of outsiders be heard over you nor permit nations to look down on you.  You'll no longer be a land that makes women barren.  Decree of GOD, the Master.'"

I thought this was a very potent prophecy, that confirms the prophetic word given in Rise Africa Rise!

Regards

October 2009 Zimbabwe Trip

Background 

The NCMI leaders in Southern Africa have given Connections Church the responsibility for the continued training of the spiritual leaders in the Lower Gweru NCMI family in Zimbabwe. To uphold this responsibility, Connections holds 2 Geographical Training Times (GTT's) withing the Lower Gweru region per year. All of the NCMI relating leaders in the region are invited to the GTT and we find that there are sometimes other leaders that also attend the training time. We have just returned from the October 2009 GTT in Lower Gweru and I have provided some feedback of this time below.

Travelling There

Hamilton Stephenson, Ndaba Ndolvo, Reg Hindley and myself left Cape Town at 05:00 for lower Gweru on Tuesday 6th October 2009. We decided to travel through Botswana, rather than the normal route through the Beit River Border Crossing, as this border post is currently very busy. We overnighted in Kimberley and left the Wednesday morning at 05:00 for Francistown in Botswana. The RSA/Botswana crossing took us all of 30 minutes to clear, as it was very quiet. We stayed at the Road View Lodge in Francistown and left at 05:00 for Lower Gweru. We were very lucky to arrive at the Botswana/Zimbabwe border crossing before several busses, with the result that we cleared this border crossing in about 30 minutes.

One of the busses that arrived after us at the border post

On the way to Lower Gweru, we had to fix a flat tire. We arrived at Lower Gweru at around 11:00 on Thursday morning.

Ndaba and myself taking off the tire, while Ham is looking for something in the back.

Foundation for Farming Training

The GTT commenced with a two-day FfF training session that was open to anyone within the community that wanted to attend. Three trainers from the FfF team came down from Harare for the two-day training course. We had an excellent response from the local community and in the region of 160 people - mostly women - attended the course.

Joseph doing a practical demonstration to highlight the importance of God's blanket (mulch)

The people that attended the FfF training course

The first day of the FfF course was spend at Reach Out Ministries (they kindly allowed us to use their facility for the training) in theoretical training. The Friday was spend in a nearby field, where the theory was put into practice.

Firstly they taught that one has to pray for they field, to break any curses on the field. Then one has to set out the area in which one has to plant.

One then have to clear the field of all growth, as demonstrated here. But it is important to keep the growth as mulch for later use.

The Trainees then had to clear the field - theory put into practice.

Then the Trainees had to dig the holes where the seed was to be planted. For maize, these holes were dug in rows that were 70 cm's apart. The holes were dug about 80 mm's deep and some fertilizer was then put into the hole. Manure was put on top of the fertilizer and the hole was closed with soil to be about 40 mm's deep.

The seed was then planted (three seeds in a hole) and watered.

The seed was then covered and a layer of mulch was put on top of the entire field.

The Trainers from FfF encouraged the people to pray for their crops every day. They mentioned that subsistence farmers that have adopted the FfF methodology has increased their yields from 350 kg's per hectare to 3,000 kg's per hectare in the 1st year to about 6,000 kg's per hectare in the 2nd year and that some of these farmers are now getting yields of 11,000 kg's per hectare!

The Geographic Training Time

The Friday afternoon we commenced with the GTT. About 45 leaders from 7 churches within the Lower Gweru region attended the GTT.

Sam Ndlovo welcoming the delegates at the GTT.

Ham opened (Ndaba interpreted) with an excellent message on the different church leadership styles currently being used in Churches and that the Followship Model are the only biblical one - the rest are from the world system.

We continued with the training time on the Saturday.

I opened with a prophetic message out of Ezekiel 36:1 to 15. This portion of scripture is about the rebuilding of Israel after the Babylonian exile, but I felt the Holy Spirit said to me that this is what father God wants to do in Africa. I consequently changed the word Israel to Africa wherever it was mentioned in this portion of scripture.

Julius from East Side followed with a message that encouraged the Leaders to Go out to preach the Gospel.

Ham then shared a message on Shepherding, which tied in with the Followship Leadership model that he preached on the previous day.

Ndaba (Obet interpreting) brought a message that the Body of Christ must be United, not Divided.

Sam followed with a message was somewhat corrective, addressing issues like division in the Body of Christ, importance, etc.  Ham closed the GTT with a message on the Character of a Good Leader.

On Saturday evening, the Leaders were saying that they have been chastised by the Word and the Spirit, but in a constructive way. I must admit that it was awesome to see the Word and the Spirit bringing small corrections and encouraging the Leaders in the Churches to continue with what they are doing.

Sunday's Ministry

On Sunday we (Julius, Ham, Ndaba, Reg and myself) ministered at some of the local churches.

The Church where Reg ministered

Travelling Back

After Sunday lunch, we said goodbye and departed Lower Gweru at 13:30.  We arrived at the Beit Bridge Border at around 17:30 and cleared the border at around 20:00.  We arrived in Johannesburg at 02:00 on Monday morning.  Some friends of Ndaba accommodated us for the night.  We left at 09:00 on Monday morning and arrived back in Cape Town just after midnight.

Some Ideas for a Masiphumelele / Ocean View Upliftment Project

Introduction

Paul wrote "May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ." (1Th 5:23 MSG) In this passage Paul says that Man was a God-created triune being - spirit, soul and body .

The prophet Isaiah said of the coming Messiah "He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our rebellious acts; He was crushed for our sins; He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from His wounds." (Isa 53:4-5 GW) This scripture in Isaiah gives a quick overview of the phenomenal redemption work that our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished at Calvary. He redeemed our whole being - spirit, soul and body - from sin and the consequences thereof. During Jesus's earthly ministry we see Him healing the sick, feeding people, binding up the broken hearted, setting captives free and forgiving them their sins. His earthly ministry addressed the whole of man - spirit, soul and body.

From the book of Acts, it is clear that the early Church also ministered to the whole of man - "The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. A feeling of fear came over everyone as many amazing things and miraculous signs happened through the apostles. All the believers kept meeting together, and they shared everything with each other. From time to time, they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it." (Act 2:42-45 GW)

Christians today have largely separated their lives into secular activities and sacred activities - the secular activities to address our physical and emotional needs and the sacred activities to address our spiritual needs.

Whole Body Ministry

Because of the segregation of the secular from the sacred in our lives, it is my sense that the Body of Christ has largely just ministered to people at a spiritual level.

But Jesus said "The Spirit of GOD, the Master, is on me because GOD anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. GOD sent me to announce the year of his grace - a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies - and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit." (Isa 61:1-3 MSG)

Is it not time that we, as His body, should minister to people at a spirit level, at a soul level and at a body level like He did?

This will require that us Christians:

• Address Bodily Needs: There are a lot of people that are in dire need of a project that will address their bodily needs, such as housing supply, potable water supply, proper sanitation, food security, primary health care, creation of sustainable job opportunities, etc.

• Address the Soul of Man: In addition, the needs of the soul should not be neglected, such as the need for education, security, creating a sense of belonging, creating a sense of self worth, etc.

• Address the Spirit of Man: Lastly and most importantly, the spirit of man should be renewed.

This can only be achieved by preaching the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to people!

Proposed Masiphumelele / Ocean View Upliftment Project

Father God has been speaking to several Christians in the Kommetjie, Noordhoek and Fish Hoek area on the Cape Peninsula, about working together to conduct an upliftment project in the Masi / Ocean View area that will address the needs of the poor. Towards this end, it is envisaged:

• Skills and Entrepreneurial Development: There are several Christian organisations involved in skills and entrepreneurial development in the Masi / Ocean View area, namely:

1. Living Way: Living Way (http://www.livingway.co.za/index.html) is a Christian-based non-profit organization that is working to economically empower people from under-resourced communities. Living Way has a campus close to the entrance to Masi, where they train people with the skills and the attitude required to suit formal employment. Living Way also has an entrepreneurial development programme through which they train people to run their own micro-enterprises.
2. FooT: The Foundation of Transformation is another entrepreneurial development organisation that uses the same material as Living Way, but adds mentorship for a whole year after the completion of the training material.
3. All Nations: All Nations (http://www.floydandsally.org) has become involved in training people in basic subsistence farming, but using biblical truths from Farming Gods Way (http://www.farming-gods-way.org/). LW also teaches a similar course.

• Production Facilities: At the moment there is no premises from where the trainees, once they have completed their training, can operate their micro enterprises. This holds true for both the trainees that have completed the farming training, as well as, the other skills-based training, such as, brick-laying. To provide these people with the infrastructure for on-going development, it is proposed:

1. Industrial Production Facility / Premises: That we buy or rent or build an industrial building in either Fish Eagle Industrial Park (an industrial area near Masi), or in the adjacent Heron Industrial Park. This facility can then be converted into small bee-hive like containers from where the people can operate their micro-enterprises. This can be anything from an area where someone can weld security gates, to an area where a motor mechanic can service a car, to an area where arts and crafts can be made and even an area where one can manufacture bio-diesel.
2. Agricultural Production Facility / Premises: That we buy or rent a farm or farms in the vicinity, where one can erect a number of green houses, as well as, establish a worm farm and a food processing plant (for example a drying area where one can sun-dry tomatoes and other agricultural produce). One can then make the green houses, vermi-compost and worm tea available for the people to farm whatever they want. One can even establish a chicken run and other livestock, provided that it is possible to comply with the relevant legislation.
3. Community Bank: The start-up micro-enterprises might require some capital - to purchase equipment, a vehicle and the like. It is envisaged that we will establish a community bank that will operate along biblical principles (i.e. not charging interest) where micro-enterprises can obtain some funds.

• Marketing and Sales Area: For the micro-entrepreneurs to be successful, one needs to also assist them in the marketing of their products, whether it be agricultural produce, arts and craft, an area where they can exhibit their products, or even a marketing web site. Towards this end, we propose to establish a market place, where these micro-entrepreneurs can sell their goods. This will include an e-commerce enabled web site where anyone can order produce, which will be delivered by a delivery van, or by mail.

• Schools: It is also envisaged that one can assist the schools in Masi / Ocean View - details will come later.
  

• Clinics: It is also envisaged that one can assist the clinics in Masi / Ocean View - details will come later.

• Housing: Our sense is that the housing arena has been so politised that it will be better for us to stay out of it (for the moment). However, we might even be getting involved in providing houses for some of the people at a later stage.

Conclusion

This project will therefore address issues such as Food Security, People Development, Entrepreneurial Development, Health Care, Eduction and Housing (at a later stage) all within a Christian context where people have daily prayer times and scripture readings.

Your thoughts on this? Anything more that one can do? What should we watch out for?

Regards

Slow Food and Community Supported Agriculture

Here's a fantastic system called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). It has a large and established following in the States and I've just discovered it is being done in Cape Town too. This is is pretty much what I have in mind with our project here.

Essentially, CSA works by subscribers paying in advance - they give the farmer a monthly fee and he harvests weekly. The harvest is available for collection from a central/market location. It means local food, financial stability for the farmer, and market-grower relationships. Awesome.

US info - http://www.localharvest.org/ (not working when I last checked - hopefully will work in ur browser)

SA info - http://slowfoodcsa.co.za

Seven Key Areas to expanding the Kingdom of God

At the same time as the vision of the two chandeliers, the Holy Spirit gave me seven key areas that we as Christians need to get involved in to expand the Kingdom of God.

Key Area 1 - External and Internal Affairs

This key area is the one area where the Body of Christ has been involved in for millennia and that we seem to be going forward in, namely:

• Evangelism (External Affairs): I am of the opinion that the Body of Christ should be externally focused. After all, Jesus has instructed us to "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all." (Mar 16:15 MSG)
• Discipling (Internal Affairs): But we re not just to spread the good news to all - we also have to make disciples of those that accept Jesus as Saviour.

However, we might have been missing something in our evangelism and discipling activities. Jesus address the whole of man - body, soul and spirit - in His redemptive works at Calvary. "But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed." (Isa 53:5 MKJV) This verse describes that Jesus addressed our bodies, our souls and our spirits in His redemptive works. But we as Christians have been largely punting the spiritual side of His redemptive works and we have forgotten that He has also done a work in our bodies and our souls.

If we look at what Jesus did while He was on earth - He healed people, fed people, taught people life truths and explained the Good News. In other word, He addressed the body, soul and spirit side of mankind during His earthly ministry.

And the Church in Acts also did the same. They healed people, fed people, taught people life truths and explained the Good News to people. In other word, they addressed the body, soul and spirit side of mankind in their ministry.

But somewhere along the line a dualistic thinking has taken hold of the modern Church and we have separated our lives into secular and sacred activities. Consequently the modern Church has lost the focus on the entire human being and we have become focused on the spirit side of man. A result of this dualistic thinking has brought us to the point where we regard Pastors as working for God, while ordinary Christians are not. But this is a wrong paradigm - we are all working for God! Joseph was responsible for securing the food supply (food security) of an entire country as part of God's divine plan. Joseph surely was working for God! Paul writes "Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ." (Col 3:23-24 MSG)

My sense is that Father God wants to change our dualistic living paradigm into a whole life living paradigm, where He is in control of our whole lives - body, soul and spirit - and not just of our spirits. Where we work for Him in whatever it is that we do!

Key Area 2 - Food Security

Currently food prices are on the rise at the consumer end, while the farmers are being paid less and less for their produce. The primary reason for this is GREED! Companies and their investors that are involved in the food distribution chain have come to regard food as a resource (like oil) and they are trying to get as much out of the consumers as they can. Their greed will eventually create a situation where the farmers go under (the food supply source will then be reduced), but the demand for food will continue to grow (due to population growth). Which will mean that food will become increasingly scarce and people will be expected to pay ridiculous prices for food.

This is in line with the food scarcity described in the book of Revelation "When the lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Go!" I looked, and there was a black horse, and its rider held a scale. I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay or three quarts of barley for a day's pay." (Rev 6:5-6 GW)

As a result of the above, most developing nations in the World are currently struggling with food security issues. And my sense is that Father God wants us as Christians to become involved in securing food for others and ourselves (we should always regard others as more important than ourselves - "Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Php 2:4-5 GW)

Key Area 3 - Economic Development

My sense is that Father God does not want people to live in abject poverty. He says "... there shall be no poor among you. For Jehovah shall greatly bless you in the land which Jehovah your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it" (Deu 15:4 MKJV)

Scripture says this of Jesus "The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is on Me; because Jehovah has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isa 61:1 MKJV)

My sense is that us Christians has used the blessings that Father God has given us to bless ourselves and that we have forgotten the poor! But He wants to change this mindset - He wants to bless us, so that we can be a blessing to others. Hence He wants us Christians to get involved in economic development activities that will decrease poverty world wide.

Key Area 4 - Housing and Infrastructure Establishment

Proper housing with a potable water supply, water-borne sewerage, electricity supply and decent access roads is essential in improving the quality of life of the poor. Should the poor get a title deed to such a house, it will open up access to formal finance channels, which will enable them to obtain a loan to start a small business.

A proper house with decent infrastructure will go a long way in reducing the spread of sickness and disease. Which will in turn reduce the demands being placed on the primary health care system in the region.

At the moment (specifically in South Africa but in the rest of Africa as well) housing is in a bit of a mess and there is a lot of corruption in the housing supply.

It is my sense that we as Christians should get involved in housing delivery in order to speed up the rate of delivery, as well as, reduce the corruption that is going on in this arena.

Key Area 5 - Health Care

Father God gave the Israelites a lot of instructions on health care in Exodus to Deuteronomy. In fact, it seems that one of the roles of the Priests was to take care of primary health care. In addition, one of the areas where Jesus did a phenomenal redemptive work for mankind is in the area of healing. I am therefore of the opinion that health care is a subject that is close to Father's heart.

At the moment (specifically in South Africa but in the rest of Africa as well) primary health care is in a shambles. It is therefore my sense that this is another one of those areas where Father God wants us Christians to get involved in.

Key Area 6 - Education

Father God also gave the Israelites instructions on teaching their children. I am therefore of the opinion that education is another subject that is close to Father's heart.

It is therefore my sense that this is another area in which Father God wants us Christians to get involved in.

Key Area 7 - Godly Governance

Father God gave the Israelites a lot of instructions on how to govern their nation in Exodus to Deuteronomy. At the moment a lot of political leaders (specifically in South Africa but in the rest of Africa as well) are in government for what they can get out of it. It is therefore my sense that Father God wants to change the political environment to one where political leaders serves their constituencies. It is therefore another one of those areas where Father God wants us Christians to get involved in.

Other Key Areas

I am of the opinion that Father God also have some other areas that He wants us Christians to get involved in, such as, the arts, science, etc. The above 7 areas should therefore not be regarded as the be all and end all of what He wants to achieve. Rather, it is a way of getting our thinking our of the dualistic living paradigm into whole live living paradigm.

Regards

What is Father God Doing in the World Today?

During last week I was given a vision that I feels explains what Father God is doing in the world today.

The Vision

I saw a large ballroom (like in a palace). Two chandeliers were hanging from the high ceiling of the ballroom. The one chandelier was brightly lit and really looked fabulous. But the other chandelier only had a couple of light bulbs that was shining dimly.

I then saw the Lord Jesus walking into the ballroom to a light switch. The light switch was like that of a dimmer switch, which one can turn. He then slowly, but resolutely, started to turn the light switch.

As He was turning the light switch, the brightly lit chandelier started to dim, while the poorly lit chandelier started to light up. He continued to slowly turn the dimmer switch until such time as the one chandelier (the brightly lit one) was virtually completely dark and the other chandelier (the dimly lit one) was shining brightly.

The beauty of the now brightly lit chandelier was magnificent - it exceeded the beauty of the previously lit chandelier by magnitudes!

The Ballroom

My sense is that the ballroom is the world. Certainly, "The earth is the Lord's and everything it contains is His." (1Co 10:26 GW)

The One Chandelier

The chandelier that was initially brightly lit, but that was turned down and ended up being dark is the Kingdom of the World. The Kingdom of the World is a rogue kingdom that is operating on the Earth under the rule of the enemy. And up to about a year ago, this kingdom was shining brightly. But this kingdom is an abomination to God and He has been shaking this kingdom during the last year. And this kingdom has consequently lost some of its sparkle. And my sense is that Father God will continue to slowly, but resolutely, shake this kingdom until such time as it's financial system and everything it stands for has collapsed completely.

The Other Chandelier

The chandelier that was initially poorly lit, but that was turned up and ended up shining brightly is the Kingdom of God. And His Kingdom has not been shining brightly - in a recent TV program aired in the USA, a reporter analysed whether Christians have an impact on society. The reporter used the City of Dallas as a benchmark, because Dallas has the most professing Christians per capita in the entire USA. But, unfortunately, the criteria that was used to see if Christians does have an impact - divorce rate, crime rate, drug abuse and the like - was the same as in any other city in the USA. From which it was deduced that Christians does not really have an impact on society. A huge charge against us Christians indeed!

But Father God is starting to turn up the flow of electricity to the Kingdom of God and His Kingdom will start to shine brighter and brighter until it surpasses the brightness of the other kingdom by far!

Prayer

Paul writes: "So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from His perspective." (Col 3:1-2 MSG)

Please pray this prayer with me: "Heavenly Father. We ask that you forgive us - Your sons and daughters - for being worldly minded! Please cleanse us from our sins and iniquities. Please give us a fresh infilling of your Holy Spirit and of power. And Holy Spirit, please help us to focus on the things above - to become truly heavenly minded! In Jesus name."

Regards

Some Reasons for Rural Agricultural Land Reform

Throughout rural Africa families and tribes own small tracts of land, which they farm to produce food to sustain the family during the year. Generally these families and tribes reside on their agricultural land in primarily mud houses. More often than not, each family has dug a pit latrine on their plot of land, as well as, a well from which they draw water. The subsistence farming approach that is practised by a substantial number of Africans as mentioned above raises a large number of concerns, such as:

Flawed Land Use: Good quality Agricultural Land is a scarce resource that should be utilised for food production and not for Residential Land Use (housing). By mixing the land use types (Agricultural Land Use and Residential Land Use) the following happens:

• Scarce agricultural land is used for residential use: Firstly, prime agricultural land that could be used for food production and consequently food security for the people in a region is being used for residential use;
• Sub-soil and ground water contamination: The use of pit latrines and even septic tanks in prime agricultural soils will inadvertently contaminate the soil and the ground water;
• Reduces food production potential: The soil contamination and ground water contamination mentioned above will render the agricultural land of no use for food production;
• Spread diseases: The soil contamination and specifically the ground water contamination mentioned above will spread contagious diseases, such as, Cholera;
• Increased malnutrition of residents: Agricultural land that does not produce to its capacity generally means that people does not have sufficient food to eat. People that are malnourished tend to be highly susceptible to contagious diseases;
• Increase load on Health Care System: Rapidly spreading diseases, such as, Cholera, places a huge strain on the heath care system of any country.
  

The answer to these dilemmas is relatively simple – proper rural land use planning. Ideally, the Regional Agricultural and Rural Development (RARD) plan will identify areas of prime agricultural land, as well as, land that could be used for residential use and industrial use. Rural residents can then be relocated (with their consent) from the prime agricultural land to proper houses with decent engineering infrastructure (potable water supply, water-borne sanitation, electricity supply, etc.) constructed on the areas identified for residential land use.

Such an approach will ensure that:

• Scarce agricultural land is used for food production: The prime agricultural land will be used for food production and consequently food security for the people in the region;
• Unpolluted sub-soil and ground water: People that live in decent houses with potable water and water-borne sewerage will prevent the inadvertent contamination of good quality agricultural soil and the ground water;
• Increased food production potential: Agricultural land that is unpolluted – both the soil and ground water – will ensure that the land can produce food to its maximum capacity;
• Prevent spreading of diseases: People that live in decent houses with potable water and water-borne sewerage will live in hygienic circumstances – a great step towards preventing the spread of contagious diseases, such as, Cholera;
• Proper nutrition of residents: People that have a variety of sufficient, good quality and affordable foods at their disposal to eat will be well nourished and they will tend to be less susceptible to contagious diseases;
• Reduce load on Health Care System: Well nourished people that live in hygienic circumstances will tend to be healthy, which will greatly reduce the load on the heath care system of any country.
  

Limited variety of agriculture produce available: Most subsistence farmers produce the same kinds of agriculture products – maybe maize, some vegetables, milk, eggs and the like – which means:

• Oversupply of some foodstuffs: In most African markets today one sees vendors selling the same foodstuffs at their stalls. The economic fundamentals of supply and demand then kicks into play, resulting in farmers not being able to obtain a decent income for their agricultural produce that they have laboured for;
• Total undersupply of most foodstuffs: At the same time there is a total under-supply of fruit, vegetables, meat, etc., in the markets. The economic fundamentals of supply and demand then kicks into play, resulting in the cost of these foodstuffs soaring sky-high. The impact of a shortfall in affordable fruits, vegetables, meat and the like is that people are inadequately nourished. People that are inadequately nourished tend to be sickly, which then means that the load on the health care system increases substantially.
  

However, by consolidating a large number of subsistence farm-land into large-scale commercial farm-land the above situation can easily be prevented. Any commercial farmer worth his or her salt will adopting a multi-year, diverse crop rotational plan, which will ensure that a range of foodstuffs will be available for the market at affordable prices. Affordable foodstuffs will ensure that people are properly nourished, which means that they will tend to be healthy, which will reduce the load on the health care system.

Poor agricultural risk management: In areas where the same agricultural product is produced the risk of a crop failure is substantially increased – for example, if rural subsistence farmers all plant maize, the likelihood of an occurrence of maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca, increases substantially. And the likelihood of the maize stalk borers spreading to neighbouring patches of land is high, which could result in a crop failure. The best way to reduce agricultural risks is crop diversity and geographic crop spread:

• Crop diversity: By planting a variety of crops ranging from fruit trees, to maize, to wheat, to vegetables, to cereals, to roots and tubers, to pulses, as well as, sugar and even cotton, the risk of one pest destroying the entire crop is radically reduced;
• Geographic crop spread: It is acknowledged that some of the crops mentioned above – specifically the staple foods – will have to be planted in larger volumes than others. To prevent pests from destroying the entire crop of staple foods, it is best not to plant all of the staple crops in the same geographic location, but rather to plant the staple crops at different location, that are spread apart (geographically spreaded).
  

When the same crop is spreaded geographically there will be both distance and natural barriers formed by other crops or trees between the staple crops, which will prevent pests in a particular crop from spreading. Once again, crop diversity and geographic crop spread can best be achieved by a large-scale commercial farmer.

Poor foreign exchange generation: Most subsistence farmers farm with the purpose to sustain them and they generally do not produce more than they need – for a variety of reasons, such as, not enough agricultural land, high agricultural input costs, etc. Hence they do not have excess agricultural produce that they can export to other countries and thereby earning foreign exchange. But the large-scale commercial farmer has a mindset of exporting the excess of their agricultural produce to other countries and thereby earning foreign exchange.

Any additional ideas or objections to the above? We would love to hear your opinion!

Regards