Iowa compared to Malawi
On a large Iowa farm, the tractor can be heard as Tom glides smoothly across the 5,000-acres he cultivated for this years wheat crop. He glances at two of the six tires digging into the soft dirt, and contemplates whether he should invest in a new set, or save toward the purchase of one of the 12-row harvesters that will make him independent of outside help. His is one of 92,300 farms in the state, and combined they handle 30.7 million acres of farmland. In a recent season they produced 1.88 billion bushels of corn. In one of Tom’s three barns he has a 2005 John Deere 1770, 24-row planter worth $120,000.00, a 2008 John Deere 1770NT 16-row planter valued at $90,000.00, and he is sitting on a 2012 John Deere 8335R tractor with 335-engine horsepower, and valued at $299,950.00. In spite of a half million-dollar value, these three items hardly touch the worth of 24 pieces of equipment Tom has on his property.
In tiny Malawi, Alex Banda is cultivating his “fields” for planting. It will take two months, as he only has two sons to help, and the undergrowth has reached 8-feet during the season. They will use the machetes to cut it away and burn it, then break the soil with the hand hoes. These are the only tools he has; his two sons, one machete, and two hand hoes. His land is 1½ kilometer from his house, but near their village. He has a small vegetable plot next to his house, which his wife Mary, and their 3 daughters tend. This gives her crops to barter for a few household funds.
It is no wonder the people of Africa continue to struggle just to have enough food. The Malawi Project continues to send the V-series tractors to help the people provide for themselves. Along with the tractor one of the basic utilities vehicles can carry food, workers and commerce to market. One can send a trailer of food for the same shipping cost, but tomorrow another trailer will need to leave with more food. A trailer of tractors will supply assistance for many villages, for many seasons.