The financing for the beginning of the farms was provided by Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. (CCCI) a Christian television ministry where Cal Bombay was Vice President of Missions for many years, ending in December, 2003. Regular reports of the finances were submitted to the Missions Department.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were put into the beginning of the building of a Hospital located at Liwolo, as well as school classrooms, and farms. The farms are the largest single project. More than ten 40 foot containers of farm materials, supplies and goods were shipped to Sudan to support both the hospital and the farms. Books and other materials were sent for both the schools and for public libraries just now being developed.

Three rebuilt farm tractors were donated and sent in containers from Canada. Two good used tractors were bought from Kampala, Uganda. Later, twelve new Massey Ferguson 231S tractors were bought, at cost price from Trinity Equipment in Bradford, and shipped to Sudan by Cal Bombay when he was still with Crossroads Christian Communications. By the end of the year 2004, Crossroads will have discontinued actively raising funds to finance the founding and further development of the farms in Sudan.

Cal Bombay Ministries (CBM) is picking up the responsibility, along with other ministries and churches, to further develop and finance the farms until they reach self-reliance.

For example, one church in The United States had offered $34,000 ( US) for the development of these farms provided CBM can raise twice that amount for the farms. That was accomplished. Since then, another Christian businessman in Canada offered $15,000 (Can) matching other people’s gift’s one for one. That too was accomplished. Matching grant offers are welcome.

Cal Bombay Ministries has already bought seven more tractors, five of which are already in Sudan, bringing the total tractors in the Savannah Farmers Cooperative (Company) to twenty-two on the ground. More tractors and equipment are being shipped on a continuing basis, as designated monies become available.

There is still a need for financing these farms with funds for seed, management staff, tractor operators, part-time labour, small tools and operating funds such as diesel fuel, oil and maintenance. It is planned that each farm will eventually be self-supporting and need no further funding.

But, because of the extreme hunger and starvation in Sudan, it is essential that more farms be developed. (See “Branches” and “Community”)

Because there are no banks in southern Sudan at this stage, the accounts for the Savannah Farmers Cooperative (SFC) are held in the Nile Bank in Kampala, Uganda. There is a central account to which all funds are forwarded. There are three signatories on the Central Account. Dr. Samson Kwaje (Official Spokesman for Southern Sudan), Mr. Steven Wondu, (Official Representative of the SPLM to the United Nations, Washington and Ottawa) and the President of Cal Bombay Ministries, Rev. Cal R. Bombay.

Mr. Steven Wondu and Rev. Cal Bombay are Co-chairmen of the SFC Board of Directors. (“See Leadership”) (pix)

Each Branch maintains an account in the same bank, to which funds are transferred when and as deemed necessary for operational and maintenance purposes. Each of the Branch Accounts has its own signatories for use of the funds within each branch. The individual farms sell their product and operate more and more on the proceeds of these sales. All produce is now sold directly to the Savannah Farmers Cooperative Warehouse in Juba, Sudan. Each farm receives a fair wholesale market price. It is then sold to either individual traders or to Registered Non-Government organisations for feeding programs.

Auditing:

Mr. Steven Wondu was Auditor General for the SPLM in southern Sudan before he was appointed as representative to the UN, USA and Canada. He is setting the standard system for all the accounting for the all branches of the SFC. As a Chartered Accountant, he will also hold training seminars for all farm managers introducing a more standardised book-keeping system with full accounting ledgers. Such materials are not yet available within southern Sudan and must be brought in from Uganda.

Cal Bombay has access, both as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Savannah Farmers Cooperative and as representative of all donor organisations, to inspect and have the books audited when and as he feels it is necessary.

As soon as banking services are available within southern Sudan, the accounts will be transferred to the New Sudan banking system.