Sebastian Scott’s simple life

AT first glance, one would not even easily tell this is Guy Scott’s son – as he paces around the farmyard in cargo shorts, and a hat made of reeds – but that is how simple Sebastian has chosen to lead his life.

His house has twelve different colours and brands of iron sheets on it.

All roofing sheets, windows and some of the timber were rejects or second-hand but Sebastian made good use of them to build the place he now proudly calls home.

The 43-yeard-old father of three, Nia, 17, Eva 14, and Luke 11, lives in Kafue rural on his farm.

He is an organic farmer and does almost every work on the farm by himself, despite the status destiny has attached him to or the two helpers he has.

He is a hands-on kind of person, perhaps a real-life jack of all trades.

“I did all the bricklaying, roofing, concrete, plumbing, electrical, welding, painting, plastering, fitting and whatever else myself. With brick making, we were three to make the 7,000 bricks for the house. For bricklaying I had one assistant to make mortar and hand me the bricks,” Sebastian reveals when talking about his house.

Considering that he is a son of a former Vice-President, who at one time acted as Zambia’s President, one would expect Sebastian to live the high life but he has chosen to be simple and instead lives in the remote areas of Kafue, in a place called Kasusa.

He set up base there 15 years ago when he relocated to continue with organic farming, which he started in England and Australia over 20 years ago.

Together with his wife, Holly, they are transitioning nine hectares of land with a collection of a thicket into wealth using the simplest of methods in organic farming.

Half of the land is cultivated, about 4.5 hectares, while the other part of the land is used for animal grazing.

Sebastian finds himself regularly needing to fine-tune land management strategies as he continues to learn about farming and organic crop production.

His interest in plants dates way back to his days as a child.

“I was born at Kalulushi Mine Hospital and at the age of five, we relocated to England. And after completing my school in England, I started working on organic farms. I was born and raised in a family that believed in improving and sustaining the environment for everyone’s benefit. We are all here because the environment is supporting our lives.”

“It is in England where I started reading agriculture text books on organic farming and I also worked on a number of farms in England in order to learn how to grow crops without adding fertiliser and chemicals. I attended a number of workshops and seminars until I found a way of doing this, the natural way of growing crops in a less costly way.”

After relocating back to Zambia from Australia, he continued with his organic farming when he started working at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre.

After leaving Kasisi, he went to Kafue to settle on his farm.

One may think because of him being white and a former Vice-President’s son he would be detached from the community around him. But surprisingly, his relationship with the people in Kasusa is good.

When asked how he relates with the community, Sebastian answered: “My relationship is good. We work together, address issues and over the years we have gotten on well with everyone.”

Sebastian did his primary and secondary school in London because his father had gone back to England, where he got a job at Oxford University.

‘Seba’, as he is fondly called by villagers around his farm, is a third-born of four children (three males and a female).

But despite being a son to a man who has lived all his life in and around politics, Sebastian does bot seem keen on following his father’s footsteps.

“I have not thought of being in politics. The biggest role I can play is to help the economy grow in rural Zambia by sharing the organic knowledge with them. I think I can serve people better in my passion as an organic farmer as opposed to being in politics.

“Maybe when I am too weak to hold a hoe, then I can consider politics but for now, farming is what is on my mind, nothing else,” Sebastian said.

And the feeling of being the Vice-President’s son, how was it for Sebastian?

“It was strange being son of Vice-President. Luckily I kept a low profile and I was happy with my dad and step-mother that they got to that level. It was interesting but I made sure I continued with what I was doing, organic farming,” Sebastian said.

Each time his father visits, Sebastian said, they talk about farming.

“He is very passionate about agricultural and rural development. We discuss these issues at great length and he supports my work 100 percent,” Sebastian said.

On his nine hectares of land, Sebastian grows pumpkins, soya beans, groundnuts, pigeon peas and maize.

Sebastian uses the maize and soya beans as feed for his animals.

“We make double the money from the soya and maize by making it as feed. We have 50 pigs, 250 layers and five cows.”

“For me having come from a family where both my grand-fathers were interested in improving life around them, I find it defining in how my father has chosen his way of life. We have citrus, oranges and lemons, we have bananas. We grow 22-plus different kinds of vegetables,” he said.

Maanda Sianga: Young farmer living her dream

AGRICULTURE might not be the most attractive industry to many young people out there, but 25-year-old Maanda Sianga considers farming as a game changer for youth problems.

Maanda who practices mixed farming on family land in Kafue’s Chanyanya area is among an increasing number of university-educated agriculture entrepreneurs in Zambia.

After she graduated from university at Mulungushi in Kabwe, Maanda was reluctant to tell anyone especially her peers what she planned to do for a living.

“I’m a farmer,” she said, displaying two huge live fish from her ponds. “Commonly, other young people may look at it (being a farmer) as an embarrassment.”

Maanda graduated from the university in 2019 and directly went into farming instead of looking for a white collar job.

She is fighting the stigma by seeking to professionalise farming by applying scientific approaches and data-crunching apps not just to increase yields, but to show that agriculture can be profitable.

She runs an award winning company called Agro Queens Trading.

Her interest in commercial farming bloomed in 2012 after a school tour of Zambeef Huntley Farm in Chisamba when she was in her 10^th grade at Banani International Secondary School. She was 15.

“I visited Zambeef Huntley farm in 2012 in my 10th grade and from that day I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was so impressed with what they were doing and I told myself I too can do it this big,” she said.

Going back to Banani, Maanda started visualising herself as a budding farmer.

To cement her ambitions, upon completing her school in 2014 she went for a Bachelor’s of Science in agriculture at Mulungushi University and completed in 2018.

In July 2019, at the age of 22, Maanda ventured into farming full-time.

Growing up on a family farm she got more interested in being part of the family business and this also helped her start  Agro Queens using the infrastructure on the farm.

“I went to Westwood international in Botswana where I grew up until 2012 when we moved back to Zambia. I developed interest at 15 years old because I saw that farming is that noble profession because food does not run out of fashion. People eat every day,” she said.

Born on May 14, 1997, Maanda was born in Gaborone, Botswana. She is the youngest of three children.

Two of her sisters are also working at the family farm. One did accounting while the other computer science.

Maanda keeps a wide range of poultry. She is into fish farming and grows a wide range of assorted vegetables, soya beans and other grains like maize.

With the risk involved in farming and instability of market prices diversification has allowed Maanda to effectively run her business.

“Mixed farming helps me spread risk when one line is down you can rely on another,” she said.

Agro Queens also has a wide range of services apart from farming.

“We also train farmers and farm workers from 2020 till date we have trained 4,000 people across Zambia and some abroad. We also have sponsors who sponsor people for our trainings too. We also offer consultancy services to farmers. We help farmers to budget and source inputs,” Maanda said.

Maanda recently held an online training of over 700 participants from United Kingdom, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany and Zambia among many other countries.

For Maanda, farming has a steep challenge just like any other venture. Undeveloped distribution networks, poor roads and fickle water supplies are difficult hurdles for even the most competent farmer, and many of these would-be farmers who have little training or experience.

Rolling up sleeves and bucking convention as early as 05:30 every day, Maanda has left behind cushy jobs.

She has opted to use land and make agriculture her profession at an early age.

“We have to show people that farming is bling. I want to transform mind-sets,” Maanda said, holding an organic soya beans seedling.

“If we fail, it means the industry has failed. It means we have failed many young people.”

She has one promise, “Farming will never be easy just like any other venture.”

But how many people does she work with.

“So with workers I have them for specific tasks. I have groups of women between 5 to 15 depending on work available,” Maanda said.

Maanda is also an award winning young farmer and Ted X Speaker.

At a glance, Maanda might seem to be a misplaced representative for Zambian agriculture. She’s made appearances in several high level meetings.

Maanda said if she had to do it all again she would still be in agriculture.

It’s no secret, she has repeated this to millions on her personal Facebook page.

Maanda said given its sheer magnitude, even minor improvements in Zambian agriculture have the potential to determine the prosperity of the entire country.

“Over the next decade, the sector is going to have to expand, considerably to nourish a growing and much younger population. The industry is ripe with opportunities that will inevitably shape the economies of tomorrow,” she said.

Maanda is betting that Zambia’s next big ideas are probably going to be in its agriculture.

She said the diversification journey has just begun.

Her next goal is dairy farming.

“A few days ago I found my 10th grade book where I wrote down how I really wanted to become a dairy farmer. It was quite an ambiguous (uncertain) goal of having 1,000 milkers (Dairy cows). 10 years later my dream will materialise,” she said.

Her current project now is building structures that will house the 1,000 dairy cows.

Author: DOREEN NAWA

Zambian traders benefiting from medicinal spices during COVID-19 pandemic

It has become a daily practice for 38-year-old Doreen Nyoya, a resident of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, to buy fresh spices and make a concoction for her family in an effort to avert flu-like illnesses.

“I make sure each one of my three children takes a hot cup of ginger drink every evening before they go to sleep so as to prevent colds. It also helps to boost the immune system. I prepare and serve this every day after work,” said Nyoya, a security officer.

She went on to explain how the concoction is made and mentioned that she sometimes adds garlic and lemons to it whenever resources permit.

Reports suggest that the use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Interactions with Lusaka-based traders revealed that spices with medicinal elements sales have more than doubled during the COVID-19 period and sellers are continuously running out of stock.

Traders dealing in herbs and spices are realizing substantial returns from their merchandise in general and from ginger and cinnamon in particular, which are common ingredients for homemade remedies in urban communities of Zambia.

“I am always running out of ginger and cinnamon these days. The two herbal spices are selling like hotcakes,” said Nabange Basopo while holding the last pack of the dry ginger and dry cinnamon.

The 23-year-old Basopo who trades from Kamwala trading area in Lusaka, attributed the rise in demand for ginger and cinnamon to the herbal spices’ medicinal properties, which according to her are well documented.

She however stated that the use of medicinal plants and spices to treat suspected cases of COVID-19 should not be encouraged as proper diagnosis and treatment of the virus can only be done by health experts.

“I always implore customers not to let their guard down just because they have access to homemade remedies. One still has to continue observing social distancing, wearing facemasks as well as sanitizing or washing hands with soap and water,” Basopo said.

Naomi Kakoma, a 27-year-old trader at Lupili market in Lusaka Mandevu’s compound, also indicated that she was among those that are gaining a lot in terms of profits from the sale of ginger.

“In terms of profits, I am making three times more than I used to last year from the sale of ginger,” Kakoma said.

Like Basopo, Kakoma was also quick to point out that communities should continue to adhere to health measures aimed at preventing the further spread of COVID-19, adding that claims that homemade remedies can cure COVID-19 only delay proper diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

“I have made it a point to sell facemasks along with herbal spices. The idea is to let people know that the use of medicinal plants alone is not enough according to health experts. They also need to wear facemasks particularly when they are in public spaces,” Kakoma said.

And 24-year-old Dalitso Zulu who manages a shop that among other things sells a wide range of herbal spices at Mandevu market in Lusaka, said the increase in demand for spices presents huge opportunities for agribusiness.

“For me, the fact that the shop is constantly running out of spices like ginger, cinnamon, garlic as well as a few others that have gained popularity during this period means that there are opportunities in the growing and processing of herbs and spices in Zambia,” Zulu said.-(Xinhua)

Ethiopia, IFAD team up for families affected by climate shocks

 

Ethiopia and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to help families adapt to climate shocks in new multi-million dollar project.

The project also aims to improve nutrition by providing education on food handling and food preservation.

Half a million of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable families are set to benefit from a new US$451 million project to increase their resilience to climate shocks in the country’s poorest regions. For more than two decades, climate change has placed a major stress on the Ethiopian economy and on people’s livelihoods. Most of the population of lowland areas are dependent on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism, and are therefore highly vulnerable to droughts, desertification and floods. A financing agreement for the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project was signed today by Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (www.IFAD.org), and Zenebu Tadesse Woldetsadik, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome. The funding includes a $90 million loan from IFAD and $350 million in co-financing from the International Development Association (80 per cent loan and 20 per cent grant) and $11million from the beneficiaries themselves. The project, primarily designed to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 (eradicating poverty and hunger) will install small-scale irrigation technology to reduce dependence on erratic rains. It will also help smallholder farmers to invest in research systems for faster adaptation to climate change. Project activities will also strengthen rangeland and natural resources management, and improve the delivery of basic social services so that rural communities can withstand droughts and other climate shocks, and reduce asset losses. It will also help mitigate conflicts over scarce resources in fragile pastoral and agro-pastoral ecosystems. “This new project will develop an innovative value chain approach to leverage private investment, productivity and win-win commercial linkages between local businesses,” said Ulaç Demirag, Country Director for Ethiopia. “The approach will enable project clients to sustain and improve their livelihoods after completion of the project.” The project also aims to improve nutrition by providing education on food handling and food preservation, and the production of more nutritious and diverse crops with access to bio-fortified seeds and technical assistance, including on post-harvest handling. Women (50 per cent of participants) and young people will especially benefit from project activities that will cover the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas in the Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Oromia, Somali and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions.  Since 1980, IFAD has invested $755.5 million in 19 rural development programmes and projects worth $ 1.8 billion in Ethiopia. These have directly benefited around 11.5 million rural households.

African Agri-Business Engine for private sector agricultural finance launched

By DOREEN NAWA, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

THE African Development Bank and the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), a multi-donor trust fund financed by the Governments of Japan and Austria has launched the African Agri-Business Engine (AABE) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

FAPA provides grants for technical assistance activities in Africa, and is one of the components of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) initiative hosted at the African Development Bank.

The African Agri-Business Engine will identify investment and finance opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness, and focus its activities in Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya.

The project will be implemented by Grow Africa and hosted in the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

One of the proposed outcomes of the African Agri-Business Engine is the submission of business-ready deals with leading continental partners at the African Investment Forum in Johannesburg at the end of this year (11- 13 November 2019).

Jennifer Blanke, Vice President of Agriculture, Human, and Social Development of the African Development Bank said, “The launch of the African Agri-Business Engine is significant because private financing is critical for the agriculture sector to move up the value chain, so that Africa can start to feed itself and ultimately the world.”

The African Development Bank is building an integrated business pipeline that generates and activates investments for agribusinesses and agricultural SMEs to be financed in priority value chains on the continent.

It is critical to enable inclusive financing within the agribusiness sector and develop market access for SMEs and smallholder farmers.

Head of the Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Programme of AUDA-NEPAD, Symerre Grey-Johnson said that hosting the African Agri-Business Engine in NEPAD was appropriate and that this was “a clear demonstration of the excellent cooperation between NEPAD and FAPA”.

He is also optimistic about the Bank’s second annual Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg.

And Shinichi Isa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Finance, Governor to the African Development Bank, Government of Japan, expressed the appreciation and approval of the Japanese government.

Mr Isa said he is convinced of the particular importance and influence of technical assistance in building capacity from his previous experiences in development finance and projects.

The specific objectives of the African Agri-Business Engine are to create market insights and business intelligence at country level for priority value chains, and develop business engine value chain platforms for a flow of bankable and innovative agricultural SME proposals.

Through these objectives, the project will identify commercial investment opportunities in strategic commodity value chains and provide a reliable pipeline of bankable projects that will quickly find investment funding.

Also in attendance at the launch were Governors and government representatives from Africa, among them Zambia’s secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and foreign governments and senior Bank staff, including Vice President Finance Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala.

Africa’s first women agripreneurs online network launched

By DOREEN NAWA

THE first female agripreneurs online network across Africa has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya.
The VALUE4HERConnect network will help bring women entrepreneurs in agriculture together in a virtual community and serve as an important business resource for members.
The network will be able to connect, network and grow their businesses through the new VALUE4HERConnect platform.
More than 400 women have signed up to Africa’s first online platform for female agripreneurs, launched today at a trade fair in Nairobi.
The network, which was launched at AWAN-Afrika’s first continental conference and VALUE4HER B2B fair, is part of a program led by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) to empower women in agriculture.
Despite accounting for 40% of the agricultural workforce worldwide, women’s participation in agribusiness is often limited to low-profit production.
“While women are key players in agriculture, they often face challenges at the business end,” said Sabdiyo Dido Bashuna, Senior Programme Coordinator, Value Chains and Agribusiness at CTA.
“With VALUE4HERConnect, they now have access to buyers, to market information and intelligence, investment and capacity building opportunities, which will ultimately help them to form strategic partnerships towards accessing global markets for increased incomes.”
The platform includes a Women2Women Community forum, allowing women to interact, trade and share information, and market information such as country profiles, trade policies and market entry requirements.
The network also provides information on financing and opportunities for training.
The VALUE4HER Women in Agribusiness event was jointly organised with the African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN) and the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) under the theme of “Enhancing women inclusion in agribusiness”.
Value4Her targets market access, improving knowledge, skills and networks and global advocacy to address key barriers to women’s empowerment high up in agricultural value chains.
The belief is that a critical way to make progress is to empower women to take stronger roles at the business end of the value chain. It is all about recognizing potential and giving it room to grow, and through it engage 100,000 women agri-preneurs in Africa.
During the two-day event, women agripreneurs from 21 African countries gathered for masterclasses, hackathons and pitching opportunities to showcase their businesses and try to secure regional and global business deals.
“Today, we have this opportunity to accelerate the manufacture and intra- African trade of value-added products, moving from commodity-based economies and exports to economic diversification and high-value exports,” said Beatrice Gakuba, Executive Director of AWAN. “The demand is high.”
Irene Ochem, founder and CEO of AWIEF, added: “We are pleased once again to partner with CTA and AWAN: VALUE4HERConnect will make the difference in how women grow and scale their businesses. The platform bridges the gap in information and data. We connect women to intra-African opportunities, to finance and to markets.”

Reigniting Zambia’s traditional delicacies’ lost glory

DOREEN NAWA, Lusaka
‘I DON’T eat ifisashi,” is a common refrain among many people who shun eating traditional foods in homes countrywide.
The readiness by many people to avoid traditional delicacies is reinforced by the proliferation of exotic foods sold in restaurants and eateries dotted around in communities.
Not long ago, traditional delicacies formed part of the menu in most homes countrywide.
But slowly, this trend is being replaced by exotic sweets and treats like cakes, chickens, chips, pizzas and many other exotic delicacies.
These exotic and junky foods have captured the hearts and tempted the taste buds of food-lovers across the country.
It’s no secret that Zambians are in love with these junk and exotic foods as evidenced by the number of people who frequent modern restaurants for either their breakfast, lunch, supper or indeed any in-between meals and snacks.
“I have not had traditional foods in a long time, not because I cannot afford it. Actually, it is cheaper than these exotic foods we buy like pizzas and chicken and chips but the challenge is that I don’t have time to prepare it. I would rather buy these exotic foods on my way home and eat quickly before getting to bed,” Ms Jessy Kangwa, a resident of Lusaka’s Villa area says.
However, Ms Kangwa knows that most of these fast foods are not good for human health because of the high oil contents in them.
“Whenever I am eating chicken and chips, I always remember my mother back then. She used to discourage me from eating too much fast food because of the various health risks that come with them. But living in the urban area has become so time consuming for me to get to the market and buy traditional foods like dried vegetables and wild fruits,” Ms Kangwa says.
Family recipes that once made mouths water are being tossed aside, with some at risk of becoming extinct.
Ms Kangwa is not the only one shunning traditional foods, Vincent Tembo of Lusaka’s Chelstone says in his home, traditional foods are rarely found.
“My wife and I are working parents and my wife is rarely home because of the nature of her work. As a result, we both have no time to prepare the indigenous foods. All we do is to buy fast foods and the day is gone,” Mr Tembo says.
Mr Tembo says sometimes it is a challenge to find traditional foods because such foods are not easily found or not packaged well, resulting in some people being discouraged when buying these foods.
But not all national delicacies have been preserved with such priority, according to Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) executive director Patrick Nshindano.
Mr Nshindano says for Zambia to achieve the much-needed sustainable economic empowerment, the country needs a sustainable food system centering much on traditional foods production, preservation and consumption.
“Zambia urgently needs a sustainable food system as evidenced from the erosion of our traditional foods which we have had since time immemorial. Crop diversification is one of the ways of having a sustainable food system. It is then that we will see food diversity that will in-turn contribute to the country’s sustainable food system instead of solely dependent on exotic foods,” Mr Nshindano says.
Mr Nshindano believes agriculture has been relegated to only subsistence agriculture.
“For the urban population, there is too much obesity. Malnutrition levels are high and all this can be related to failure to follow crop diversification. We need more involvement and we need it done in a more sustainable manner. We need improved livelihood at the household level,” Mr Nshindano says.
The traditional food is facing erosion both in urban and rural areas.
But how will Zambia reignite the traditional foods?
“We need to reorient people on the importance of indigenous foods. It is cheap and more healthy. One reason why we are facing this erosion is that our agriculture policy system for a long time has not promoted crop diversification, as a result, mono-cropping has taken root,” Mr Nshindano says.
But all hope is not lost, Mr Nshindano says the e-voucher system is a good one, nevertheless needs to be promoted.
“We need a healthy nation. And healthy food is an important component in having a healthy nation. It is now after the e-voucher system that we have seen the change. We need to ensure that the policy looks at food diversification, too,” Mr Nshindano says.
HIVOS Southern Africa advocacy officer on sustainable diets William Chilufya says these neglected species are important due to their potential contribution in preventing malnutrition, obesity and diet-related disorders and hidden hunger.
Mr Chilufya says many indigenous food crops constitute inexpensive and rich sources of protein, vitamin C, and dietary fiber.
“Like Amaranth (bondwe), it’s nutritional value is huge and yet it is not preserved or packaged in order to be accessed by both urban and rural households. We need to promote the production and preservation of such foods so that we increase the availability of produce in the peri-urban and urban areas at affordable prices,” Mr Chilufya says.
Mr Chilufya says initiatives have been carried out across the country to strategise on how to reignite the indigenous food crops production, preservation and packaging.
“We have farmers that we are working with in sharing information, production technologies for packaging and preservation. We hope this project will result in the development of efficient marketing processes which are vital for the commercial success of the small fruits and vegetables grower,” he says.
According to Mr Chilufya, people need to change their perspectives and start eating indigenous foods which are rich in nutrients. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON AUGUST 19, 2018. LINK:

Eagerly waiting for new space

DOREEN NAWA, Lusaka
CHILUFYA Chileya is a vegetable trader who travels back and forth, sometimes twice a day, between Lusaka’s main Soweto Market to collect vegetables for sale in Zingalume Township.“Although not satisfied with being a trader, I am grateful that I can do something that puts food on the table for my children,” she says.
Not only that, Ms Chileya also says she has managed to build a house in Zingalume just from her vegetable business.
Her main worry is only during the rainy season.
“Whenever it rains, coming here [Soweto market] is unbearable but I have no choice because I have been trading in vegetables for years,” Ms Chileya says.
Soweto becomes filthy whenever it rains.
“I am happy that it is not raining now, the filthy environment is sometimes too much to a point that one has to wear protective boots and sometimes you have to carry another pair of clothes to change after doing your business here.”
The Glorious Band would say the story of Soweto market is well known [Ilyashi Likaya].
The market lacks proper water drainage systems thereby giving rise to the potential outbreak of water-borne diseases like cholera, which Lusaka City was battling with only recently.
“There is no way we can allow this to happen so long after independence. I don’t understand,” said a shocked Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale, who toured the market last month with his Gender counterpart, Victoria Kalima. “What needs to happen here is an entire upgrade to the place.”
But for all the complaints against its trading environment, Soweto market remains a popular destination for many shoppers.
She needs to check TripAdvisor, an American travel and restaurant website company providing hotel and restaurant reviews, accommodation bookings and other travel-related content.
“Best place to visit especially if you are not afraid of crowds! For locals, everything under one massive roof… For foreign tourists, a good place to experience life in one of the biggest markets of Lusaka. Please make sure you move with a friend or a person who knows the market well as the place may seem overwhelming for a loner,” one reviewer wrote.
Another one added: “Since there is not much else to do, I took a drive out there with a taxi. It is a true African market, people everywhere, cars and taxis hooting and shouting. I felt uncomfortable to leave the taxi and just decided to drive through, which was the interesting part. I’ve been to many African markets, but the mayhem at this one is by far the worst. Fun to see, so go look and decide for yourself, and just have an exit plan.”
There are many other positive reviews of Soweto market.
“A walk through this market place is a must, from vendors selling all kinds of trinkets and Chinese-made goodies, to the shop stalls peddling new and used apparel, from undies to wolly jumpers and everything in between,” another reviewer wrote.
“The small shops offer just about any kind of new goods from phone chargers to fridges and the latest flat screen TVs and portable hi-fi’s. Adding to the hustle and bustle are the busy side walk salons where ladies can do a dazzling hair style, while the traffic passes by. If one is a little hungry, there are some take- away food eateries, mostly chicken and chips. A very busy place and look out for the usual street urchins lurking about.”
They are mostly right. Soweto market, located on Los Angeles road on the western part of the city, is a place where you can find anything; groceries, toiletries, medicines, clothes, furniture, stationary, Zambian curios and one suspects even spare parts for an aircraft.
But despite the positives, the traders still want the issue of sanitation to be attended to.
“We’re not happy, we feel very unsafe. Now there is no much peace. The market now accommodates everyone, farmers, buyers and us the traders, unlike before, farmers had their specific place. The other side was closed because of the cholera epidemic and currently, the place is under construction,” Isaac Sakala, who sells groundnuts at the market, says.
An agribusiness expert, Wesley Litaba Wakun’uma, says the situation at Soweto market hinders the growth of the country’s agribusiness.
“Any agribusiness venture needs access to markets in order to create a profitable food market. The time has come for making Zambian agriculture and agribusiness a catalyst for ending poverty. We have lots of people venturing in agribusiness but the situation at Soweto market is one that can negatively affect access to markets,” Mr Wakun’uma says.
“Unlocking the potential of agribusiness in Zambia begins with better and orderly food markets where customers can assemble and buy whatever they need, from vegetables to fruits.
“Soweto market is a competitive place even among Zambia’s neighbours, but it is held back by the difficulty and filthy environment farmers and traders work from. Trading in a filthy place is a major deterrent for consumers and this constrains the growth and performance of our farmers and agribusiness ventures in Zambia.”
Fortunately, the minister of local government is seemingly on top of things.
“The new vegetables and fruits wholesale trading markets at new Soweto is taking shape. Farmers and traders will soon trade in a safe environment with adequate sanitary facilities,” Mr Mwale says.
“The market will have four shelters, 28 toilets, four showers, a large parking space for trucks bringing farm produce and a solid waste collection bay.”
He says once the market starts operating, a health committee will be appointed to ensure that the highest levels of sanitation are upheld.
“It is absolutely important that we do that considering that almost all farm produce that end up on our tables pass through this market and any contamination risks lives of the entire population of the city,” Mr Mwale says.
The new market is expected to accommodate over 2,500 traders. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON MAY 26, 2018. LINK: https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/eagerly-waiting-for-new-space/

Local entrepreneur gives life to Tamarind

DOREEN NAWA, Lusaka
TAMARIND, known as kawawasha in some dialects in Zambia and prized for its sweet-and-sour taste, is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Often used to make juice, its sticky pulp is also a rich source of dietary fibre.
Ecological research done by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) called Sustainable diets and biodiversity shows that 100 grammes of fruit pulp provides 5.1 or over 13 percent of the dietary fibre that a human being typically needs in a day.
A private nutritionist Felix Kabbila says tamarind, which is native to tropical Africa, is particularly useful for restoring electrolyte imbalance when one experiences dehydration.
This is the reason some Zambian communities will serve a glass of tamarind to a guest on a hot day – or as a hangover remedy.
“It belongs to the vegetable order though it is treated and consumed like a fruit. It is this pulp that contains all the nutritional and health benefits of the tamarind fruit.”
However, despite all the beneficial nutrients present in tamarind, it remains just a wild fruit for many.
Mr Kabbila believes that value addition to this wonder tree and its fruits would be of great help in up-scaling ways of combating malnutrition in the country.
But for all its widespread use and health benefits, tamarind still remains largely unimproved and unappreciated as a horticultural crop.
Goodson Gatsi, a resident of Kafue district, says he has known the fruit since he was born.
“I only know that you can eat the fruit just by sucking it. I did not know it has several benefits and can be made into a juice. We also use the tree for firewood,” Mr Gatsi says.
Sustainable Innovation Africa (SIA), an initiative by a Zambian agribusiness expert, has started adding value to tamarind and now makes juice out of it.
The juice is packed in bottles as a fusion and sold on the local market and abroad, particularly in Lesotho and South Africa.
The juice named busika, which is the name for tamarind in Tonga, entered the market in December last year.
Since then, 21, 000 bottles have been produced.
SIA is currently working on a digital application that will see consumers buy the product online.
“We’re looking at digital marketing,” SIA executive director Wesley Wakung’uma, says.
“We decided to develop this initiative because we noticed that this fruit is going to waste yet it has a lot of health and environmental benefits.”
“Tamarind is a versatile fruit whose value can be added to a number of different consumer products. The seeds, bark and stem have also been shown to have medicinal properties. Currently, the demand for tamarind processed products exceeds supply,” Mr Wakung’uma says.
However, the commercial potential of tamarind has not been realised yet despite the value being added to it. It is believed that there is a lack of awareness of the potential of tamarind at village level.
But there is anecdotal evidence that the crop could be more profitable to farmers than moringa. What is lacking though is developing the industry and building farmer capabilities to increase volumes.
Mr Wakung’uma says according to a research he did on the benefits of tamarind, many people are turning to the exotic option of tamarind juice to improve their health in various ways.
The fruit of this wild tree has a taste that can be described as both sweet and sour.
This plant now grows in many tropical areas in the world.
But because of deforestation that has hit the country following the high production of charcoal, SIA has acquired land in Njolwe area, east of the capital Lusaka, where a project to start cultivating the tamarind trees has commenced.
So far, 10, 000 tamarind seedlings are earmarked to be planted as a way of restoring the forest.
In Zambia, there is information gap on the growth, genetic conservation and development and utilization of tamarind.
“Countries have overlooked the significance of tamarind resources in terms of food security. To diversify livelihood and food security for the poor people in arid lands having poor soils, persistent agricultural crops failure and chronic annual famine, there is need to identify such useful trees for their utilization in food, beverages and other industrial products, Mr Wakung’uma says”
Almost every part of the tree is usable.
Vice-President of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Non State Actors Coalition (CNC) Cris Muyunda says wild foods are important for food security and nutrition while trees and forests are vital for their role in the provision of ecosystem services to agriculture locally and globally.
“Wild foods like tamarind and many others contribute both directly and indirectly to food security and nutrition globally,” Dr Muyunda says.
He says with food security and nutrition high on the agenda in the nation, it is crucial to understand the contribution of forests and trees to family needs. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON MAY 26, 2018. LINK:  https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/local-entrepreneur-gives-life-to-tamarind/

Improved seeds gateway to better yields

Belita Ng’andwe of Lukolongo area in Kafue district-PICTURE BY DOREEN NAWA

DOREEN NAWA, Lusaka
A GOOD seed is an entry point for a good production, nutrition and resilience among small-scale farmers.
While investments have been made to ensure improved seeds are available and accessed by all farmers, not every small-scale farmer uses the improved seed in their agriculture production.
The reason is simple; many small-scale farmers say improved seed is expensive. This makes it difficult for them to access the improved seed varieties.
“I have heard of improved seed being good for a positive yield and being adaptive to the current climatic conditions but the problem we have is the pricing. These so called improved seeds are expensive.
“Imagine a farmer like me buying the so called improved seeds, buying fertiliser, buying insecticides for armyworms, where will I get all these monies? Farming becomes so expensive when you opt for improved seeds,” says Belita Ng’andwe of Lukolongo area in Kafue district.
For Mrs Ng’andwe, she prefers recycled seeds and this she has been doing for years from the time she started farming.
She says she has noticed a reduction in the production of her yields but she attributes this to erratic rainfall.
“When its harvest time, I select the best grade of maize, beans, groundnuts and cowpeas and I treat it with ashes for fear of it being attacked by insects. When it’s planting season, I use these seeds and I do not buy from any seed company,” she says.
Though agriculture is still the major occupation of the people of Zambia, especially in rural areas, there is an insufficient agricultural production mainly due to the retention of age-old practices like recycling of seeds.
Actually, increasing agricultural production relies largely on improved seeds and their availability.
Improved seeds are of paramount importance for boosting agricultural production.
However, most farmers, especially in rural areas countrywide, are unable to use such seeds due to their unavailability and ignorance.
Mrs Ng’andwe is not the only one.
Jerry Ng’andu, 53, a small- scale farmer of Shibuyunji district, says small-scale farmers need support if they are to benefit fully from emerging opportunities.
As small-scale farmers, Mr Ng’andu says their lack of access to finance, markets and transport, often makes their participation in meaningful food production and integrated value chains very difficult.
“I have been in this area for over 30 years; all we know is to recycle seeds the idea of improved seeds is new here. I think people here are ignorant on the importance of using improved seeds. I think there is need for experts to come and educate people here,” Mr Ng’andu says.
Scientifically, it is established that over 50 percent of the total crop yield is determined by the genetic potential of the crop, carried in the seed with the rest apportioned to proper agronomy, use of other inputs like fertiliser and natural conditions.
Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) chief researcher Mweshi Mukanga says despite the benefits of planting improved seeds, only a few farmers in Zambia use seeds of improved varieties.
Dr Mukanga says the numbers are even lower among small-scale farmers in rural areas who make up close to 80 percent of the country’s farming community.
“For Zambia to attain food and nutrition security that will spur inclusive growth and development, local production of seeds of high yielding varieties must be increased. These seeds should be tailored for specific ecological conditions to adapt to the changing climate. They must also be disease and pest resistant considering the changing climatic conditions that are prevailing,” Dr Mukanga says.
Despite the huge potential for private sector engagement, there are still very few local private seed producing companies in Zambia.
Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Julius Shawa says more than one million smallholder Zambians still battle to get improved seed varieties.
Mr Shawa adds that the failure to access improved varieties of seeds is hindering productivity in the agriculture sector.
The permanent secretary cited weak organisational structures, low investment and poor knowledge management as additional barriers to improving productivity of smallholder producers.
“Farmers are still unable to access improved seed varieties despite the developments of improved generations. There is need for improved methods and technology like improved seed varieties, irrigation, storage systems, land and water use. Undertaking intensive work to consolidate the resilience of smallholder farmers is of greater importance,” Mr Shawa says.
Seeds of improved varieties are important in raising yields and ensuring food security, proper nutrition and prosperity for not only smallholder farmers but the general population.
The irony of the seed industry globally is that smallholder farmers who need seeds the most to make more from their small pieces of land have the least access to these seeds.
Current pricing for improved maize seeds ranges between K365 for a 10 kilogramme (kg) bag and a 25 kg bag now fetches K820.
Zambia is not the only country that is struggling with small-scale farmers adapting to improved seeds.
Countries like Ethiopia have had this battle for a long time but now, small- scale farmers have adapted to the change in the farming system.
Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) project officer Ashebir Demia sets his sights high.
In an effort to achieve that goal of easing access to improved varieties of seeds to small scale farmers, Erer Cooperative in Oromia region is backing this big reform in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector.
Mr Demie is at the forefront of a new grassroots seed marketing and distribution programme supported by ATA and the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture to improve the country’s cereal crop production through the marketing of improved seed by multiple producers and agents.
Under the programme, government-subsidised farmer-run cooperatives produce high-yielding, disease-resistant seeds like wheat and Teff, accelerating distribution and helping smallholder farmers grow healthy crops to bolster national food security.
“About 1000 farmers belong to the Erer cooperative, planting about 3000 acres of government-certified seed, which produce improved varieties they then multiply and sell to smallholder farmers,” he says.
Farmers can now collect seeds from a certified agent – either a primary cooperative or a private outlet where a direct channel is established with seed producers, leading to timely deliveries and better estimates of potential demand.
Now in Ethiopia, Farmers can buy government-allocated seed as they did under the other system or the agent can now contact the seed enterprise.
“Such a transformation did not happen in a day. It took continuous education to our small scale farmers and now, they know that planting improved varieties of seeds improves their yields too,” Mr Demie says.
It goes without saying that a good seed is the key to a good yield. ALSO PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON APRIL 3, 2018. LINK: http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/improved-seeds-gateway-to-better-yields/