To most of us, Jericho is the walled city the Israelites defeated in the book of Joshua. In Joshua 6:20, it says that on the seventh day of walking around the city of Jericho, “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”
The Jericho in World Renew’s story today is a smallholder farmer, married to Jane and father of six. In 2014, Jericho was farming four hectares of land (almost 10 acres) using a hand hoe. He faced barriers such as poor soil fertility, limited tools, and the high cost of synthetic fertilizers. These “walls” kept his yields to a minimum, and he averaged just 1.2 tons per hectare. For context, the average Canadian farmer doubles that with half the growing season. Providing enough food or income for his family seemed impossible.
Then Jericho joined a program supported by Growing Hope Globally and World Renew. Through the program, he gained access to conservation agriculture training that helped transform his farming practices. He also connected with a savings group: a community-based association where members pool their savings, access small loans, and share profits at the end of a cycle. This provided a safe way to save money, access affordable credit, and invest in his farm and family without relying on costly external loans.
Through conservation agriculture mentorship, Jericho learned techniques such as ripping, pot holing, mulching, manure application, and crop rotation. With access to an ox-drawn ripper, he expanded his farm to seven hectares, increasing production while reducing labor. By combining organic manure with smaller amounts of chemical fertilizer, he cut costs and improved soil health. Through his perseverance, Jericho’s faith grew with every field he prepared, every seed he planted, and every decision he made with hope for the future.
“Before this program,” Jericho said, “I struggled to feed my family. Now I cultivate more land, harvest high yields, and have enough income to meet our family needs. I can even plan for the future. God has given me strength to work hard and share knowledge with others.”
The results have been remarkable. Last season, Jericho harvested nine tons of maize and two tons of soybeans—more than double his previous yields. He invested part of his income in a motorbike, making it easier to transport produce to market and reduce household expenses. The savings group share-outs have enabled him to pay school fees, purchase farm inputs (seeds, fertilizer, crop protection), and improve his home.
“We now make decisions together,” Jane said. “Our children see the value of working as a family. Farming is no longer a struggle; it is a shared success.”
Jericho’s success has inspired others in his community. “I now mentor five young farmers in my village,” he explained. “They are adopting conservation agriculture and joining savings groups, just like I did.”
Looking ahead, Jericho plans to expand his farm to 10 hectares, introduce drought-resilient crops, and continue growing the community savings group to facilitate more opportunities for financial independence and food security for others.
In the story of the battle of Jericho, the people had to march around that city every day for a week before God delivered the city into their hands. The Jericho in World Renew’s story has had a much longer journey, but after 12 years of work, learning, growth, and patience, the walls that stood between him and hope have tumbled down. Through patience, stewardship, hard work, and faithfulness, Jericho has made a promising way forward for his family.