The AgTEC Program
Agricultural Training Education Center (AgTEC)
AgTEC is a program of Breath of Life International that seeks to train national apostolic visionaries in agriculture. Through training in the United States and workshops and discipleship in-country, we believe that it is important to train community leaders to better their community and win lives for Jesus through agriculture.
AgTEC Dominican Republic
In 2018, on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic, a family and team of veterinarians encountered a need. A small village, relying heavily on agriculture, was struggling to make a living. An extended drought caused lack of proper forages for cattle and milk production was dropping. Additionally, cows were experiencing illness due to heat stress and disease. Throughout that trip, the BOLI team worked to help the farmers address livestock concerns.
AgTEC Liberia: Transforming Liberia Through Agriculture, Youth Leadership, and Dairy Development
The goal of this project is to start the first post-war dairy farm in Liberia in order to meet felt needs and spread Jesus’ name. Liberia has had two civil wars in the past 36 years. By the end of the second civil war, around 250,000 people had died due to direct violence, disease, and starvation. The land was left ravaged and plundered on account of the illegal mining that took place to fund the warring sides, and the economy was left crippled.
Liberia is ranked as the 9th poorest country in the world with a GDP-PPP of only $2005.76. Liberia is also forced to import all of their dairy and cheese products due to the complete lack of a dairy industry or dairy cattle. Because all of these products have to be imported, prices are higher and largely unaffordable for impoverished families and communities. As well as the physical need for nutrients provided through milk, Liberians are also in need of spiritual fulfillment. Liberia has become a battle ground between Christianity and Islam. All of the surrounding countries have become dominated by Islam, and now the focus has shifted to converting Liberia. It is now crucial that Christians join the fight in bringing Jesus to this area.
Our solution for both the physical and spiritual needs of this country contains multiple components. To successfully start a dairy farm in a country where little to no agricultural experience exists it is vital that we provide proper training to the people. Our solution is to invite Liberians to participate in an Agricultural Training Education Center (AgTEC.) AgTEC would function under Breath of Life International while also partnering with both the local church, and Robert Bimba (Founder of CHAP), to select, train, and equip certain members of the community to be able to properly run a dairy farm in Liberia. The selected community members would complete a training internship program in the United States through the Endless Mountains Veterinary Center in Rome, Pennsylvania.
GDP of Liberia in $
Completing the internship through the clinic will hopefully help with acquiring a visa. Training would involve hands-on experiences such as working on a large dairy farm located in Candor, NY, gaining experience on livestock health and diseases through veterinary shadowing, and engaging in discipleship and mentorship activities.
After training is completed, the second aspect of this project could be put into action. Because of the lack of dairy cattle in Liberia, it is likely that the ideal cattle breed would have to be shipped to Liberia. The Girolando, a heat-tolerant, feed-efficient, and disease-resistant tropical breed, would be our main option for shipment. A site visit to Liberia will need to take place in order to meet the people and assist in selecting a location for the dairy. In the location chosen to develop a dairy farm, a holding area and pastures for the cattle would be constructed by employing the community. Another opportunity for Breath of Life International within this project is to share Christ through the development of a veterinary college. It is our understanding that though the country’s university offers classes on animal and veterinary sciences there is not a formal veterinary college or practice in the country.
There are also multiple other needs in Liberia. Electricity is largely unavailable, and solar energy could provide a sustainable solution to make power accessible to rural areas. Health care, sanitation, and disease prevention are also needed to prevent and treat tropical diseases. Additionally clean water is often unable to be found, therefore increasing health issues in the country. Education in Liberia is also particularly low quality and the rate of out of school children is high, especially in girls. With Jesus’ power it is possible to transform this country for the better. Through meeting the physical needs of people it is possible to change the world through Jesus, one cow, and one person at a time.
IMPACT
The impact of the initiative.