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MS Zambia Newsletter November 2009
By Jeremiah Mbewe, Project Coordinator – PRUVEN, ActionAid Zambia
03. November 2009
ActionAid Zambia in partnership with Keepers Zambia Foundation (KZF) and Farmers Organisation Support Programme (FOSUP) have been implementing the Project for Reduction of Nutritional Vulnerability (PRUVEN) since February 2009. It began with a Training of Trainers course in vegetable production conducted in March 2009 in Kaoma and Lukulu. And the courses paid off: This year both areas have experienced more than adequate production of vegetables (onion, rape, tomato, carrot, and indigenous vegetables), achieving yields that go beyond family consumption at household level.
Although there has been tremendous achievement in both districts, Lukulu has a unique story. According to the project beneficiaries, Lukulu has in the previous years been receiving most vegetable supplies from Mumbwa and Lusaka. This made vegetables expensive. But this year the 249 households that received the training and initial support of 4 seed packets, have been able to provide surplus production to feed Lukulu. One group visited during the October monitoring, said: ‘‘Once we have treadle pumps we can feed Lukulu with winter maize’’. The group is also among the beneficiaries that received initial support of early maturing maize varieties for off-season farming.
The seed that was procured from a variety of Zambian Certified Seed companies provides an array of field performance test opportunities for farmers to analyse and provide feedback. Individual household savings and contribution from sale of vegetables has enabled the group to buy an ox to pair with the one they already had in order to reduce labour for tilling land. As for vegetable production, the group has also already made savings to buy another treadle pump. At household level both in Kaoma and Lukulu families have been able to buy new seed, pay for school fees, buy solar panels, sprayers, to mention but a few. This shows that there is definitely capacity for rural households to experience and have food security sovereignty if proper community-centred interventions are promoted. The answer to many challenges lies in the participatory identification and resolving of problems that engulf us in our daily lives.
Lukulu Floods with Vegetable Supply
Lukulu district in Zambia's Western Province has previously received most vegetable supplies from Mumbwa and Lusaka. This year, however, the story is different.
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03. November 2009
ActionAid Zambia in partnership with Keepers Zambia Foundation (KZF) and Farmers Organisation Support Programme (FOSUP) have been implementing the Project for Reduction of Nutritional Vulnerability (PRUVEN) since February 2009. It began with a Training of Trainers course in vegetable production conducted in March 2009 in Kaoma and Lukulu. And the courses paid off: This year both areas have experienced more than adequate production of vegetables (onion, rape, tomato, carrot, and indigenous vegetables), achieving yields that go beyond family consumption at household level.
Although there has been tremendous achievement in both districts, Lukulu has a unique story. According to the project beneficiaries, Lukulu has in the previous years been receiving most vegetable supplies from Mumbwa and Lusaka. This made vegetables expensive. But this year the 249 households that received the training and initial support of 4 seed packets, have been able to provide surplus production to feed Lukulu. One group visited during the October monitoring, said: ‘‘Once we have treadle pumps we can feed Lukulu with winter maize’’. The group is also among the beneficiaries that received initial support of early maturing maize varieties for off-season farming.
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Lukulu farmer at work
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The PRUVEN project is funded by the European Union and is operational in Kaoma and Lukulu districts of Western Province. The project targets households affected with HIV and AIDS as well as orphans and vulnerable children. The project strategy is holistic, and advocates for engaging these households to take an active role in food production for food security which is very vital in augmenting the provision of AIDS medication by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Agriculture has played a significant role in ensuring that agriculture trainings in communities are carried out effectively.
