In Rotanda, Mozambique, the members of the Chirodzo Farmers Field School (FFS) once faced a familiar cycle: planting, hoping, and watching crops fail. The group of 32 farmers—22 women and 10 men—had traditionally farmed individually, with limited technical knowledge or access to new agricultural practices. Low yields and unreliable harvests made it difficult for families to maintain food security. At first, many were hesitant to join the FFS. Working together and sharing resources was unfamiliar, and some worried that participating would mean giving up their independence.

That began to change with the arrival of ADRA’s Nature+ program.

Through training and a starter kit of tools and seeds, the farmers established a shared learning plot where they could put new techniques into practice. They learned how to produce organic fertilizer and biopesticides using locally available materials, often at a fraction of the cost of synthetic alternatives.

The group decided to experiment with beetroot, a crop they had never grown before. Starting with just 20 grams of seeds provided through the project, they harvested 70 kilograms of beetroot and sold it for 25 meticais per kilogram, earning 1,750 meticais from their small plot. They later connected with a buyer in Messica, about 150 kilometres away.

Members are now applying what they learned on their own farms, improving their production and exploring new ways to strengthen their livelihoods. The group also participates in a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), giving members the opportunity to save together and borrow money for important needs. For Elisa Wilson, one of the participants, a loan from the group helped her plaster her house and install zinc roofing. “I now have a secure and beautiful place I call my home,” she shared.

What began with uncertainty has grown into a community of farmers who are more connected, knowledgeable and hopeful about the future. The support of donors like you helps make transformations like this possible.