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Grain Banks Give Back to Hungry Nigeriens
28 August 2006
Nigerien woman

As the people of Niger look to the sky waiting for the rain, there is concern that another food crisis could be imminent. The rains have come late and have been patchy, resulting in delayed planting and leaving some fields withered and needing to be sown again. This, sadly, is not an unusual circumstance in Niger. On average, only three of every 10 harvest years yield an adequate food supply for the nation.

Most harvest years are marginal because of poor farming practices and infertile soil. Low productivity results in a period of scarcity for four to five months before harvest. People do not starve, but they sink into debt buying grain at exploitive "hunger season" prices. In many cases, most of the harvest must be sold immediately to pay off their debts, leaving little money for the year ahead. The result is a cycle of hunger and indebtedness.

Breaking the Hunger Cycle

Sometimes, as in 2005, a surge of interest and giving provides loads of grain to quell the hunger, but this response is only a temporary fix at best. SIM missionaries working in Niger alongside the church are striving to show the compassion of Christ by implementing development that aims to end the cycle of hunger.

The SIM Niger team has used excess funds given for the 2005 relief efforts to buy advance stocks of grain across the country. They have stocked nearly 500 tonnes (551 American tons) of millet and corn which will be distributed through grain banks.

carrying sacs of grain

Compassionate Commerce

A grain bank is a self-sustaining project with the goal of providing lower-cost grain during the hunger season. Grain is purchased at low cost during the annual harvest in October and November, stored for several months, then resold at a minimal increase over the purchase price at a time when the market price has risen substantially.

The compassionate sale of low-cost grain is a strong demonstration of the love of Christ because it stands in stark contrast with the exploitation of the poor by wealthy merchants. "Simply showing the love of Christ is the primary outcome; however, we expect there to be greater openness to the Gospel through running the grain bank," comments Steve Brown, one of the leaders of the Goure food bank project, where SIM is partnering with Food for the Hungry.

Pray

As SIM and its partners in Niger work for justice and an end to hunger, please pray:

  • for rain and a good harvest for this year;
  • for the church leaders to manage the grain banks with wisdom and integrity;
  • for the good reputation of the church to increase; and
  • for many who do not know the compassionate God of the Bible to come to know Him through this ministry.

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