MEET AHAM

I was born in a village where agricultural work constitutes the main source of income. We were displaced twice during the war, but not for long periods, thank God. Today, I live with my family: my wife, our three daughters, our son, his wife, and their three years-old son. Our house is very simple. We only have two rooms and very limited utilities and equipment. It is not well insulated and very much exposed to the elements, which makes it hot in the summer and cold in the winter. There also is a leakage from the rooftop which makes the house very humid especially in winter.  There are also cracks in some of the walls as a result of the recent earthquakes. Our biggest challenge is our insufficient income and the high cost of living, especially when it comes to education and healthcare, but also transportation, food, and heating.

At the church, I learned about the agricultural project. I quickly realized how important and beneficial this project could be to me, and so I registered to participate. I then received trainings, as well as organic fertilizer and seeds for the land. The costs of all agricultural operations have been covered through the project. On top of this, I gained much agricultural knowledge to help me better cultivate the crop.

I didn’t believe sustainable agriculture could be more profitable than conventional agriculture, but I was proved wrong. The project reduced my costs significantly and increased my production. In turn, our income increased, and is helping us secure our basic needs, which is making a big difference. I am planning to continue cultivating my fields using sustainable methods, to modernize irrigation methods for crops, and to start making my own manure by raising some livestock.

Now that we feel more stable, I can sense that my children are doing better psychologically. I was able to teach them everything I learnt, and they also gained skills and sustainable agriculture experience.  I am confident they will use this knowledge in the future, and it will help them be more prosperous.