Grassroots Leadership: How One Chief is Restoring the Rangeland in Namwala

Southern province is renowned as having the largest cattle population. At the same time, the Province is also one of the most affected by effects of climate change. Namwala district is among the most heavily affected districts in the province that is usually hit by flash floods, drought and heatwave. The resulting suffering which falls on livestock farmers has compelled the need for action to mitigate such disasters.

Rangeland management facilitated by the Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Program(E-SLIP) is an intervention that is gradually but successfully being adopted in Namwala by smallholder livestock farmers.

This intervention has been enhanced with the positive influence of one renowned man in the community – Chief Mukobela. 

“The people in my area are very sceptical about adopting new things. The first time E-SLIP came with their rangeland management interventions, my people rejected them. But after they saw what I did on my farm, they opened up to the concept,” he said.

 Chief Mukobela - Wesley Shabongwe Mukobela - is a visionary when it comes to livestock farming. His personal farm sits on 10 hectares of land. In addition to his growing herd of cattle and goats, his farm also hosts a growing banana plantation, an orchard of a variety of fruit trees and a large lawn of pasture grass that has been the foundation of his farm.

“The soil on this farm we are standing on was very poor. So for 2 consecutive years prior to my cultivation, I cultivated velvet beans to improve the soils; and when I saw the results, that is when I knew that I should encourage my people to participate in rangeland management,” Chief Mukobela.

He added that when he decided to move his farm to where it currently is, many other farmers had rejected the piece of land due to its poor soil. So on the soil of his struggling banana plantation, he took a chance, and planted some velvet bean seed and some nappier grass, that E-SLIP had supported Baambwe rangeland. Within a few years, he observed that his banana plantation began to thrive; and it was then that he knew that there was need to compel his community to welcome the over sowing of rangelands in the district. 

His farm is within Baambwe rangeland. With support from E-SLIP, Baambwe Rangeland Committee received 400kg velvet beans and 1,000 trees to over sow in their rangeland. Furthermore, over the years beginning from 2020, the Program also empowered the communities in the rangelands with trainings in how to establish and maintain a seed nursery supplemented with: velvet bean seed, sunhemp, bana grass, Nappier grass as well as perennial tree seedlings namely acacia, gliricidia and leucaena. The nurseries are a sustainable measure to ensure that communities always have seed readily available to over sow in the rangelands every year. Chief Mukobela is an active participant in this annual exercise.

“To protect this intervention, certain areas of this [Baambwe] rangeland are restricted from around November to May to allow the area to rejuvenate,” the Chief said.

Given his traditional authority this enforcement comes easily for him to implement. 

Chief Mukobela’s influence over his community’s attitude towards sustainable rangeland management is an asset to E-SLIP interventions in his area. He has chosen to lead from the front by providing exemplary demonstration for his community to learn from. Using his influence as a traditional leader to encourage his community to be proactive in addressing climate change effects in Namwala has been a game changer in catalyzing efforts to revamp rangelands in Namwala.

Empowered Farmers, Resilient Communities

Hauma Cooperative members who are the recent
beneficiaries of the Group's first pass on ceremony

Gwembe district is a valley, which means its inhabitants are subject to high temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns. These conditions are challenging for any farmer. Furthermore, the prolonged drought of the 2023/2024 farming seasons affected the area thereby worsening the already harsh conditions.

In the heart of a region plagued by extreme heat and aridity, a group of small livestock farmers who received a livestock package from E-SLIP, have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and ingenuity, turning adversity into opportunity. Their story is a testament to the power of community, adaptability, and sustainable practices in the face of environmental challenges.

SIFAZ Leads the Discussion on Sustainable Agriculture Practices

From L to R: Dr. Chizumba Shepande(Director,Dept of Agriculture-MOA), Mr. Claudio
Bacigalupi(Head of Cooperation -E.U), Ms. Suze Filippini(FAOZambia Country Rep),
Mr. John Mulongoti(Permanenet Secretary-MOA) and Dr. Peter Setimela (CIMMTY 
Zambia Country Rep.) during the opening of the National Technical Symposium

The Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems (SIFAZ) held a National Technical Symposium late last month, which brought together specialists, technocrats and farmers from various organizations and cooperations, to network and problem-solve issues related to sustainable agriculture practices.

SIFAZ, which is a program supported by the European Union and led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with CIMMYT and the Ministry of Agriculture; held its Symposium under the theme "Advancing Food Security and Agribusiness Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers through Sustainable Agriculture Innovations."

The Future of Farming is Sustainable Intensification Practices

Soil - the foundation of our food systems - is facing an unprecedented crisis. Often referred to as the 'silent pandemic,' soil degradation is threatening the very basis of our agricultural sector. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)about 90% of the Earth’s top soil will likely be at risk of degradation by 2025.(https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/07/1123462 )

With over a third of the world's topsoil already degraded, the consequences of inaction are already visible.

From Seed to Success: Evaness Kapambwe’s Forage Journey

 

                              Evaness Kapambwe during an entrepreneurship training  facilitated by E-SLIP and Z.D.A

In the heart of Kapiri Mposhi district Central province, where vibrant fields stretch toward the horizon, Evaness Kapambwe emerged as a beacon of innovation in sustainable agriculture. This successful forage farmer and seed grower has harnessed the potential of sunhemp, a versatile crop known for its soil-enhancing properties, to transform her farming operations into a thriving enterprise.

Last season alone, she reported remarkable earnings of K178, 000.00 a testament to her dedication and expertise in the field.

HOMEGROWN SOLUTIONS: ENHANCING THE RIGHT TO FOOD THROUGH LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

The Food and Agriculture Organization hosted a food expo to raise awareness on Right to Food

This year’s World Food Day commemorations were held under the theme Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future. This theme shone the spotlight on the basic human right to adequate food.

For Zambia, this theme calls attention to access to the recent drought-induced food crisis in which 5.3 million people were threatened with hunger and malnutrition. The recent drought was declared a disaster after 8 of the country’s 10 provinces experienced severe rainfall deficit and consequently reduced the national crop production.

For farmers in rural communities who depend predominantly on agriculture, their quest for food security begins at home and thus the prolonged drought has implied that ensuring their food nutrition security has been a struggle. Part of this struggle stems from the mind-set that only maize constitutes food. And thus, the nutritional potential of many indigenous foods is overlooked.

One pillar of the right to food requires freedom from hunger in the event of disaster and thus, this was a key message at the recently held World Food Day commemorations that were held in Lusaka.

The event was graced by her Honour, the Republican Vice President – Mrs Mutale Nalumango who echoed the government’s commitment towards ensuring all people had access to adequate and nutritious food.

The commemorations that are annually sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization country office, were this year marked by a food expo at which various nutritious indigenous foods from all the 10 provinces of Zambia were exhibited through traditional and contemporary creative recipes or simple preservation techniques.

Vice President Nalumango said that she observed that though local foods did not perform well as a result of the drought that country recently suffered, there was still need to promote indigenous seed which were usually resilient to harsh climatic conditions.

Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, graced the event and sampling various local foods being exhibited

Indigenous seed are an integral part of local food systems as they are climate resilient, and are a key avenue through which local food systems can be strengthened and consequently, household food and nutrition security can be improved.

Thus, promoting local foods which are easily accessible, available and in most cases affordable can fulfil efforts to ensure the right to adequate foods while preserving traditional cultures.

In this regard, vulnerable communities should be encouraged to take advantage of fresh, seasonal local vegetables and fruits daily while on the production side, farmers need to integrate agroforestry for soil fertility, moisture retention and environmental protection. Furthermore, they should scale up the growing of more legumes such as soya beans, cowpeas, groundnuts and pigeon peas for an assured nutritious and protein-rich diet.

This World Food Day theme calls for action to protect food systems from the challenges that come with climate change. In the case of Zambia, the commemorations echoed the benefits of local food preservation techniques coupled with the nutritive value that can be assured from accessible and affordable indigenous foods.

Environmental activist who also happens to be Miss Earth International, Kena Chibuye, has first-hand experience with access to food having worked as a primary school teach in Luapula – one of the country’s provinces with the highest malnutrition rates in Zambia.

Kena Chibuye(right) has a keen interest in local seed

Kena shared how she observed that because of the school feeding programmes in rural schools, pupils were motivated to go to class because of the assurance of a meal. To her, that motivation was evidence enough that there is a deficiency of food in their homes and they need to go to school to access it.

In recognizing such realities, it is imperative to translate awareness into actions that can support sustainable food production to empower rural communities that are the most affected by hunger.

As the world struggles to produce food amidst climate change, this World Food Day is a reminder to take a collective responsibility towards ensuring that we build a world where access to food is not a privilege but a right.

In so doing, embracing Sustainable Intensification Practices in all agricultural activities for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life; Leave No One Behind, is the way to go.

 

 

 

 

MEET DOROTHY MAKINA : A CHAMPION OF CLIMATE CHANGE FROM SENANGA,WESTERN PROVINCE

Dorothy Makina is willing to learn more about 
making her farming climate resilient

Like farmers all around the Zambia, those in Western province are aware of the consequences that the prolonged drought will have on their household incomes and nutrition. Just by looking at some of the stretches of dry crop fields that line the roads leading to the countryside it is easy to believe that most small-scale farmers will not harvest much.

It is for this reason that farmers are being compelled to take up proactive interventions to ensure that they have enough food to last them until the next farming season.

Dorothy Makina from Senanga district of Western  province can be described as one of the resourceful farmers in the district. She has a flock of 80 goats, she also rears chickens and owns a few cattle too. Every farming season she normally cultivates 6 hectares of her land with maize for consumption and for sale.

As expected from the prolonged drought, however, her entire maize crop failed.

SHARING DATA KEY TO ACCURATE REPORTING ON MALABO COMMITMENTS

The participants at the Knowledge Managment training workshop
on Data Capture &; Monitoring/Reporting on Malabo Commitments

By Natasha Mhango

The commitments of the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, come to an end in 2025 which is literally next year. The Malabo Commitments, as they are usually referred to, were the product of a 2014 African Union Heads of State meeting in which member states committed to fostering agriculture -led development in order to reduce poverty and end hunger in Africa by 2025.

This targeted approach saw various African countries also commit to allocating 10% of their public expenditures towards financing agriculture, boosting intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services; as well as ensuring regular a biennial review process to track and monitor the progress being made.https://www.resakss.org/sites/default/files/Malabo%20Declaration%20on%20Agriculture_2014_11%2026-.pdf

While a significant number of signatories to the Commitments are not on track in achieving some of the set targets, they have however made significant progress in the right direction.

During a recently held training workshop on Knowledge Management and Monitoring /Reporting of Malabo Commitments that was held in Chisamba, Zambia,

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF THE PROLONGED DROUGHT ON ANIMAL HEALTH

 

Some cattle licking at a dry borehole to try and quench their thirst

Much is being said about the impact of the southern regions’ prolonged drought on the crop sector and its consequential effect on the availability of food for human beings. However, a silent struggle that the livestock sub-sector is likely to face as a result of the drought equally needs attention.

In Zambia, the prolonged drought has catalysed the already fast depleting grazing lands for livestock. Whereas grazing lands would usually dry up around the month of June, this year’s poor rainfall has entailed that livestock farmers are being burdened with the need to supplement their animals’ nutrition much earlier than usual.

Inadequate grazing is also a hazardous opportunity for the outbreak of livestock diseases stemming from starvation.

E-SLIP FACILITATES A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO RANGELAND MANAGEMENT

 

Grazing areas are fast depleting and deforestation has adversely 
affected the already low rainfall pattern of Chirundu

As the effects of climate change continue to reveal themselves in the livestock sector, rural farmers are being compelled to make aggressive efforts towards enhancing their resilience and ultimately protect their livelihoods.

In valley areas such as Chirundu, a grim scenario exists which continues to hinder farmers’ capacity to grow their livestock population most especially cattle.

The Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme is a government intervention under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The Programme which is jointly financed with the International Fund for Agriculture Development(IFAD) aims to improve the sustainable production and productivity of rural livestock farmers. One of E-SLIP’s interventions has been facilitating the revamping of existing rangelands through over sowing of forage and pasture so as to enhance available grazing areas for livestock among other things.

E-SLIP has been facilitating the over sowing of 35 rangelands around the country through the establishment of Rangeland Management Committees that are comprised of farmers who are located in areas that are directly dependent on the rangelands.

Headmen in Chirundu take action against indiscriminate tree cutting

 

Roy Habasimbe - a headmans of Sikoongo area

Chirundu district is renowned for its high temperatures and low rainfall. But this scenario has been exacerbated by climate change and is bordering on becoming unbearable for both human and livestock if no interventions are made.

The District experienced only one month of rainfall during the 2022/2023 rain season and boreholes around the district are already drying up.

Livestock can be seem roaming in search of food and water; and farmers in the district have every right to be disturbed by what they are observing.

Roy Habasimbe is a farmer and village headman in an area called Sikoongo. He explained that in the last 7 years, he has observed a significant reduction in rainfall in the area.

“In 2019, our cattle were even dying of dehydration,” he lamented.

HEAD WOMAN JUSTINA PHIRI - AN ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE

Justina Phiri has been headwoman in Mumbulumba 

village for 15 years

Women in leadership positions in rural areas remains a wonder to see but their contributions to their communities often go un-acknowledged. This is because the increase in patriarchal attitudes disguised as cultural norms hinders women’s participation in leadership roles in rural areas.

Mumbuluma village is located in Luangwa district of Eastern province in Zambia. The area has 12 village headwomen and only 4 headmen. These women are also advocates for climate change interventions that their area is in dire need of. 

59-year-old Justina Phiri has been a headwoman in the area for the past 15 years. She explained that indiscriminate tree cutting for charcoal has led communities to observe the reduction of rainfall over the years and hence the need to conserve the environment was finally being taken seriously by rural communities. 

YOUTH FARMERS IN MPONGWE TAKE A CHANCE WITH YAMS

Yams pounded into meal and used to cook porridge 

WHEN youth think of lucrative employment, they usually fantasize about anything other than getting their hands dirty with soil or absorbing the scent of livestock. However, as the trends in entrepreneurship change due to changing the preferences among people, the need for food and nutrition remains constant. As such, farming continues to be the income generation which is guaranteed to have a constant clientele.

As youth unemployment remains a challenge worldwide, a significant number of youth are being compelled to be creative and take a leap into entrepreneurship. Musonda Katongo is 26 year old youth and member of a cooperative group that is generating a steady income from the production and processing of yams.

As yams are not our common staple food among the people of Zambia, opting to go into yam production entailed some amount of research and self-education was needed to ensure that the venture of yam production would guarantee a return on the cooperative’s investment.

EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER WOMEN: A STORY FROM CHIPATA, ZAMBIA

 

Gender inequality in agriculture remains evident among rural communities in Zambia. Cultural gender roles continue to hamper women farmers ’access to access to finance, inputs and training. However, closing gender gaps in agriculture has the potential to improve household food nutrition as well as increase household incomes of rural communities.

In Chipata district of Eastern province in Zambia, a smallholder farmer - Belita Phiri - pioneered the formation of a group called Eastern Women and Youth Empowerment aimed at supporting vulnerable women and children. The Association can be described as a conglomerate of women and youth groups that are striving to be self-sustainable.

 “Initially we didn’t feel the need register our group as a cooperative but the needs of the [vulnerable] children were growing,” Belita said.

She explained that the socio-economic statuses of the various groups were assessed to help ascertain the vulnerability of the group members as well as the impact that empowering their groups will have on their individual households.

Through the Eastern Women and Youth Empowerment, Belita has been mobilizing vulnerable but viable women groups to enhance their access to knowledge and livestock inputs.

EMPOWERING THE RURAL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

 The roles of the African rural woman oscillate between being chief nutritionist, head chef, nurse in charge as well and in some cases, the sole provider.

Sharon Mutale provides extension services under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. She explains that most rural women continue to fall back in decision-making and access to credit.

ZAMBIA MAINSTREAMING NUTRITION WITHIN LIVESTOCK KEEPING COMMUNITIES

Cooking demonstrations are helping farmers better 

understand how to prepare and preserve their produce

The African Union declared 2022 the year of nutrition as one way to reiterate the need for the continent to address its challenges of hunger and nutrition. Malnutrition remains high on the continent and is a leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. At the same time, rapid urbanization has enabled the increase in obesity and non-communicable disease related to diet.

The burden of these challenges affect the physical and cognitive development of children and; more recently, coupled with global challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted the challenges that Africa continues to face in enhancing good nutrition.

Zambia has been confronting issues of nutrition predominantly through its Ministry of Health. The 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey reveals that the country’s prevalence rate of stunting is 35%.

YOUTH FARMERS IN CHIBOMBO EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION

 

A group of young men watch their female counterpart grate lemons 
as one of the ingredients for the recipe of lemonade they had learned 

There is a soft muffle of giggles and chatter as the participants in the room watch us set up our cameras and recorders.

“We’re going to be seen on TV,” a young lady whispers to her friend and smiles at me as she notices me smiling at her.

She is one of the 35 participants who have gathered to learn about improving household nutrition. The training is proceeded by cooking demos through which she will learn the nutritive value of the foods easily accessible to her and how she can combine these foods to make a balanced meal.

Her name is Liness. She is a 24 year old single mother of a 1 year old.

“Our community has a lot of undernourished children and this training that I am attending is important to us. I can to learn how to better feed my child,” Liness says.

Government Officially Launches the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project(SLIMP)

Livestock & Fisheries Minister,Hon Makozo Chikote, cuts the ceremonial ribbon 

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has been addressing various needs of smallholder livestock farmers in a bid to make the livestock sub-sector a sustainable income generating activity for rural farmers in particular and the country as a whole.

The Ministry has been making deliberate efforts to increase livestock production and productivity which have included country-wide livestock stocking and restocking exercises, disease control interventions as well as the establishment of artificial insemination sites. As expected, beneficiary groups have shown their appreciation by actively participating in these interventions.

This overwhelming response, however, has highlighted the need for the government to intensify efforts towards the improvement of livestock infrastructure to complement its other interventions.

LIFE AFTER CBPP: A STORY ABOUT HOW LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN KAZUNGULA ARE BEGINNING TO THRIVE

Kazungula Dairy Cooperative have embarked on producing sour milk and yoghurt to get more value from their livestock

The devastating effects of CBPP outbreak of 2005 are still visible in the lives of smallholder farmers in Kazungula district. The CBPP pandemic was one that not only robbed farmers of their cattle but also of a significant amount of their household income which they have had to work hard to recover.

Edwin Sikute remembers the CBPP outbreak as one which also threatened the food security of some homes.

“When you lose cattle, you lose all the amenities that come with cattle for example milk was a source of protein for our children and the growth of our children got stunted when our cattle was slaughtered,” he said.

FAO Country REP. Rallies Support for Women

Mrs Filippini handing in her credentials to Agriculture Minister, Mr Michael Katambo

The 2021 theme for International Women’s Day Theme is Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. Coincidentally for FAO Zambia, the genesis of the COVID pandemic last year, brought for the organization, its first-ever female country representative in Zambia.

Mrs. Suze Percy Filippini took office as FAO Zambia Representative in July last year; taking over from Dr. George Okechi. She is an icon of women in science with an academic background as an agricultural engineer with a Master’s degree in agroforestry among other postgraduate degrees.

Her journey with the United Nations began in 1988 when