As southern Zambia faces unrelenting drought, a grassroots initiative focused on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is providing a vital safety net, training young people and women to secure food and income despite failed rains.
The extreme weather, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, has turned once-fertile land in areas like Magoye (Mazabuka District) into cracked earth. Smallholder farmers, like Daniel Chola, report severely diminished harvests, highlighting the acute vulnerability of the region’s agricultural value chain. The crisis is so severe the Zambian government declared a national disaster in early 2024, as low water levels at major hydroelectric dams exposed the critical links between energy, food, and water security.
Emerging Farmers Initiative Drives Resilience
A promising solution is the Emerging Farmers Initiative (EFI) in Monze District. The programme focuses on training participants, particularly women and youth, in Integrated Farming Systems.
“This region has suffered repeated droughts. Climate change is no longer abstract – it’s our lived reality,” says project leader Sr. Juunza Mwangani.
The training equips participants with practical, low-cost technologies:
- Water Conservation: Implementing drip irrigation to drastically reduce water usage.
- Diversification: Integrating aquaculture (raising fish alongside crops) and diversifying income through livestock and high-value horticulture.
- Soil Health: Promoting conservation agriculture and reduced pesticide use to improve long-term soil productivity.
Since 2022, over 100 young people have been trained at a model farm, transforming their perception of agriculture. “I now see farming as a business,” stated 19-year-old Jane Muleya, who plans to pursue agribusiness.
Empowering Women as Economic Drivers
The EFI specifically targets women, who are central to rural food security but often face resource constraints. What began with four participants has expanded to 75 women, each of whom is encouraged to mentor others.
For women like Mercy Miyanda, 60, who received five goats that have since multiplied to 15, the intervention provided immediate capital and knowledge. “The sisters gave us knowledge and livestock – and that changed everything,” she noted.
Another participant, Christabel Cheelo, now supports a household of 10 through a mix of poultry, horticulture, and fish farming. “I no longer depend on rainfall alone. With this mix, I can pay school fees and feed my children,” she confirmed.
With its emphasis on low-cost technologies, hands-on training, and community-led adaptation, the EFI is proving to be a highly effective model for building economic resilience in a climate-stressed environment.
