LIMALINKS EMPOWERS YOUTH FARMER!!!

By HAPPY MULOLANI SINCE independence, Zambia is predominately a mining country which has particularly been dependent on copper mining. But, in recent years, copper mining has slumped due to a myriad of factors such as the decline of copper prices on the world market. In view of this, government realized the need for diversification, specifically the agriculture sector, given the vast abundant arable land and untapped natural resources. According to the Seventh National Plan, government emphasizes on the agriculture sector as a socio-economic driver and boost to the economic status of the country. This approach is meant to diversify the Zambian economy in a bid to transform the economy of the country through productively making use of the abundant arable land and resources. Although the country possesses abundant arable land and natural resources which farmers utilize for their agriculture activities, their access to credible market information has been unreliable. This has meant lack of information on market prices and potential markets in different farming enterprises, posing a threat to farmers as they have been vulnerable to brief-case traders who tend to manipulate the prevailing market prices and offer low prices for farmers’ commodities. Such a situation has disadvantaged small-scale farmers from making tangible profits from their produce in different farming enterprises they engage in. Often, young people are discouraged from venturing into farming because of poor access to market prices and unreliable markets. Despite these hurdles, immediate interventions aimed at addressing farmers’ access to market information via mobile phone have been initiated by a non-governmental organization. LimaLinks is a non-governmental organization whose primary objective is to assist small-scale farmers by linking them to potential markets. This is done through mobile phones by providing valuable information to enable small-scale farmers make informed decisions and sale their produce to identified markets at reasonable prices. The organization not only aims at empowering small-scale farmers with vital information with prevailing market prices but also partners with market agents to better serve the farmers. LimaLinks Sales and Business Administrator Tamara Munyati says market agents are positioned in every catchment area and collaborate with LimaLinks in order to assist farmers with market information on a daily basis to enable them sale their produce at reasonable prices to identified markets. This eases manipulation of market prices as farmers are well vest with the prevailing market prices of various commodities. And Lima Links Farmer Trainer Associate Joseph Mizinga explains that LimaLinks uses airtel as the service provider to create awareness on the daily prevailing market information to small-scale farmers. The advantage is that the service is offered to farmers at no cost and allows more farmers to access market prices at their convenience. “All farmers need to do is use any mobile phone and dial *789# and select the different available commodity prices, by doing so, farmers are able to have a higher negotiating power because they are aware of the daily pricing of the different commodities on the market,” says Mr. Mizinga. He acknowledges not all farmers use airtel network but other networks. This, he argues is the reason LimaLinks is considering providing the service on other networks to fully cater for a wider range of farmers. Against all odds, a young farmer ventured in various agriculture enterprises in 2015 as a source of livelihood. Benson Munsanje, aged 26, is a youth small-scale farmer in Chiombo district in Central province, who opted to engage in farming due to lack of employment. Mr. Munsanje turned to agriculture after his quest to secure employment flopped. His first stint was with a security company upon completing his secondary education. He realised the pay check was inadequate to sustain his personal and family needs. Due to his low earnings, he decided to pursue another job option to better his earnings. Unfortunately, even his second job did not meet his expectations as he earned very little, prompting him to quit. These experiences compelled Munsanje to turn to farming as an alternative avenue to sustain himself and support his family. Mr. Munsanje recounts his first experience when he faced difficulties in selling his produce at Soweto market in Lusaka because of the middlemen who are in the habit of manipulating market prices. This system of trade tends to deprive farmers of making reasonable profits because of the low prices offered for their produce. Consequently, Mr. Munsanje cautiously took up farming by cultivating a lesser hectarge to avoid losses that were likely to be encountered at the point of sale. He embarked on cultivating tomatoes and onions because of a readily available market and traded at reasonable prices amidst price manipulation. However, Mr. Munsanje’s story changed when he became aware of LimaLinks and their provision of market information on a daily basis and linkage to prospective buyers. This awareness increased his negotiating power whenever selling his produce to prospective markets. “Despite the dictates of the market, I realized the underlying potential farming presented especially after I learnt of LimaLinks’s provision of market information every day. It also enabled me to start cultivating a wider range of profitable crops such as soya beans, beans, water melon and sweet potatoes,” he said. With LimaLinks’s provision of access to market information on various commodities, it has inculcated a sense of awareness of potential markets thereby contributing to increased hectarge. “I have increased my area under cultivation. Out of 4.5 hectares of my farm, I now cultivate three hectares of a variety of crops meant for sale as compared to the one hectare I used to cultivate in the past due to uncertainties and manipulation of the market pricing of commodities,” says Mr. Munsanje. It is evident, the intervention of LimaLinks in providing market information to small-scale farmers’ has created awareness on the various commodity prices and type of existing market. Clearly, making market prices available is a necessity for empowering farmers in order for them to not only make informed decisions on what crops to grow but also promotes market linkage. .

GOVERNMENT DONATION

By HAPPY MULOLANI GOVERNMENT through the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) has donated 10 vehicles worth K3.5Million to the Department of Agribusiness and Marketing in the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture Permanent Songowayo Zyambo commended the programme for the support rendered, noting that the vehicles will enable the department to facilitate and implement the programmes activities which relate to the promotion of agribusiness and stakeholder. Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary Songowayo Zyambo, Director of Human Resource Morgan Malambo said during the hand-over ceremony in Lusaka recently. He said the provision of the vehicles will ease the implementation of the programme activities. E-SAPP Programme Coordinator Kwibisa Lywalii says every province has been allocated a vehicle to enable them execute the programme’s activities in order to contribute to the development objective of increasing the volume and value of agribusiness production by smallholder farmers. And Director of Agribusiness Kezia Katyamba urged staff to ensure they utilise the vehicles for the intended purpose of promoting agribusiness interventions among smallholder farmers in the 10 provinces areas of commodity of focus. E-SAPP is a programme under the Ministry of Agriculture and jointly funded by the Government of the Republic and the International Fund Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme’s main goal is aimed at increasing the incomes, food and nutrition security of rural households involved in market-oriented agriculture. E-SAPP is working with 61,000households in 30 focal districts countrywide. It is being implemented nationally and focuses on four commodity groups which include legumes, small livestock, rice and aquaculture.

FARMERS EMPOWERMENT

By HAPPY MULOLANI Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has called on agriculture field staff to stimulate farmer’s business acumen as they implement the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) in the focal districts in Eastern province. Eastern Province Provincial Agricultural Coordinator Alex Chilala says field staff need to acquaint themselves with the programme’s selection criteria and eligibility under the different categories of smallholder farmers under the programme. Mr Chilala said eligible farmers will be empowered with matching grants in their enterprises in order to boost farming as a business. This facility will enable smallholder farmers to be self-sustainable in their farming enterprises. He said such support will allow more smallholder farmers to be equipped with business knowledge through the series of capacity building and trainings the programme is expected to offer during its lifespan. And E-SAPP Programme Coordinator Kwibisa Liywalii says staff need to be committed to promote the programme goals which are tailored towards contributing to increased food security, business linkages and incomes. Mr Liywalii said the programme will empower smallholder farmers through farming as a business field schools which will be the window of interaction. Through these farmer field schools in the focal districts, farmers will be trained in the different value chain commodities which the programme is supporting which include; small livestock, legumes, aquaculture and rice. He urged smallholder farmers to develop a business acumen in farmers in order to promote an entrepreneurship culture in order for them to progress in their enterprises. Mr Liywalii said the lessons learnt and shared will enable farmers to facilitate the programme goal of business linkages and interventions for improved food security, nutrition security and increased incomes. This is in line with the Ministry of Agriculture’s mandate of attaining increased food security and income. The Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) is a seven year programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) valued at a total cost of US$29.7million. It is a programme under the Ministry of Agriculture whose goal is to contribute to improved food security, nutrition and incomes of smallholder farmers in 30 focal districts targeting 61,000 smallholder farmers countrywide.

FOOD SECURITY

By HAPPY MULOLANI THE Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) has implored agriculture and livestock field staff to contribute towards improved food security and incomes of smallholder farmers in the country. E-SAPP Programme Manager Kwibisa Liywalii said staff play a key role in achieving food security and increased income through the programme’s value chain interventions. Mr Liywalii made the call in Kabwe during a programme coordination and implementation workshop which drew participants from all ten provinces in the country which includes Senior Marketing Officers, Provincial Agricultural Planners and other stakeholders from Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. And E-SAPP Monitoring and Evaluation Manager Christopher Kambole said the programme appreciates the critical role of staff and key stakeholders in identifying and exchange of knowledge with the E-SAPP environment as this will result in shared learning for smallholder farmers, stakeholders and partners. Speaking at the same event, Central Province Provincial Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator Dr Alishekwe Mutemwa urged agriculture and livestock staff to work collaboratively with the programme and other stakeholders in its endeavour to empower smallholder farmers with appropriate skills and knowledge to uplift their livelihoods. The programme coordination and implementation workshop seeks to promote effective team building through coordinated planning, implementation and shared learning. It also aims at streamlining implementation mechanisms, strategies as well as define roles and responsibilities which will also provide an avenue to inform and prepare E-SAPP service providers and other implementing partners in the agriculture sector. E-SAPP is a seven year programme under the Ministry of Agriculture funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme is valued at a total cost of US$29.7 million. Its overall objective is to contribute towards enhancing smallholder farmers’ livelihoods through improved food security and increased income.

E-SAPP TO SUPPORT FARMERS THROUGH MATCHING GRANTS

By HAPPY MULOLANI ONE of the ways of empowering smallholder farmers in their farming and business enterprises is to strengthen their access to finance and capacity building. This is premised on the argument that most smallholder farmers lack adequate support in their enterprises thereby affecting their production levels. Against this backdrop, Matching grants is one of the facilities initiated through the Enhanced Smallholder Agricultural Business Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) meant to support smallholder farmers in their Intervention Plans (IPs). The programme is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Matching grants are being offered to smallholder farmers over three windows under E-SAPP which draws lessons from its predecessor programme, the Smallholder Agricultural Business Promotion Programme (SAPP). The different windows are referred to as Category A, Category B and Category C farmers. Category A farmers refers to smallholder farmers who are identified and placed in Farming As A Business schools (FaaBs). Through these FaaBs in focal districts of the programme, smallholder farmers are equipped with knowledge in the different Intervention Plans (IP) which includes legumes, groundnuts, soya beans, and common beans. Others include: livestock, rice and aquaculture that the programme supports. Then, farmers graduate to Category B where they are now confident and emergent. In this category, they can engage in different enterprises after going through the process of capacity building. Lastly, Category C refers to farmers whose commercial viability is key and also possesses appropriate governance skills. This category is not restricted to smallholder’s farmers nor the programme’s supported commodities. The advantage of this category is that it broadens support offered for various commodities. This will enable a steady progression of beneficiaries in their enterprises. In retrospect, it is envisaged that even post E-SAPP, the idea is these businesses will keep flourishing and positively impact on smallholder farmers entrepreneur endeavours. The programme’s support towards this category of smallholder farmers is not restricted in terms of the enterprises the programme supports unlike category A and category B which specifically caters for smallholder farmers. This is workable through establishing linkages with programmes which offer support to farmers tailored to their intervention plans. Through providing finance to smallholder farmers, they are able to not only diversify in various intervention plans to enable them attain increased food security, nutrition and self- sustainability. In an E-SAPP Matching Grant Facility and category selection guidelines orientation workshop, Ministry of Agriculture Director of Policy and Planning John Kalumbi says E-SAPP is a more inclusive programme meant to build capacity in subsistence farmers to allow them not only produce for consumption but also actively participate in the prioritised agricultural value chains. Unlike its predecessor programme which focused on economically active farmers. “The programme goals is in line with the seventh national development plan which focuses on an inclusion approach in the development process”, Mr. Kalumbi. And E-SAPP Programme Coordinator Kwibisa Liywalii says the programme supports Intervention Plans (IPs) specifically in the programme’s 30 focal districts countrywide which translates to 61, 000 smallholder farmers. Accordingly, Mr. Liywalii points out smallholder farmers need to own the programme by contributing 40 percent towards their own enterprises as a committment to succeed in their endeavours. He retaliates that E-SAPP builds on lessons learnt from the predecessor programme known as Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (SAPP). The key difference between SAPP and E-SAPP is the former contributed both in kind and cash towards their farming enterprises, whereas the latter considers cash contribution as committment towards their own enterprise. This is premised on the understanding that both smallholder farmers and partners need to show commitment and ensure their enterprises succeed. E-SAPP Matching Grants Management Officer Elemson Muyanga gives an insight into how benefitting smallholder farmers will access grants to support their intervention plans in the value chain. These grants vary across three windows. The first window is only meant for subsistence farmers who are expected to benefit from the programme’s intervention and are specifically smallholder farmers. This window will exhaust 45 grants available in focal districts translating to 30 districts, whereas, window two will only exhaust 24 grants. In addition, the first window will go through scrutiny via the District Agricultural Coordinator’s office and finally at Programme Coordinator’s Office. While window two will also follow the same route. For window three, the approach is different from the first and second windows in the sense that grants will be implemented through service providers. This implies service providers will be tasked with mobilization and engagement of the different intervention plans of smallholder farmers. Mr. Muyanga explains that the only applications that will be considered are those from farmer groups in focal districts where the programme is targeting smallholder farmers engaged in E-SAPP’s commodities of focus. It is for this reason that staff need to consider and prioritise viable farmers who meet the selection criteria. He emphasizes that not every good proposal is viable for E-SAPP hence the need for staff to assist smallholder farmers come up with feasible proposals to not only facilitate value addition to their products but also be an investment to their aspirations and visions. He points out that the next criteria will look at whether smallholder farmers have graduated from farming as a business schools (FaaBs) whose aim is to build capacity in farmers concerning their commodities of focus. “In 116 districts, FaaBs will become centres where farmers will be organized and anchor farming as a business endeavour” says Mr. Muyanga. Southern Province Senior Marketing and Development Cooperatives Officer Sandonda Tembo holds the view that E-SAPP has a more inclusive approach given that its taken on board more commodities of focus. This, he says broadens the scope of the programme’s support towards farmers intervention plans. In this way, more smallholder famers will be supported particularly in the focal districts which is likely to have a spill-over effect to other non focal districts in the ten provinces in the country. Mr. Tembo observes that the programme’s categorisation of farmers allows farmers to be well-grounded and also assess the capacity of the farmers before they graduate to the next category. Such an approach will enable staff and service providers to track farmers’ progression in their commodities of focus. And Pemba Acting District Marketing and Development Officer Kuheza Chitula is elated with E-SAPP’s matching grant intervention, as the funds will allow smallholder farmers to improve their commodity crops being supported within the E-SAPP value chain. Mr. Chitula also adds that the inclusion of agriculture field staff from the inception of the programme intervention is key to its success as opposed to the predecessor programme SAPP where staff were brought on board after the programme had already gained ground. He is optimistic that the conceptualization of E-SAPP which is premised on lessons learnt from SAPP is a good starting point which is likely to yield positive results if properly implemented. The programme’s intervention is meant to focus on building capacity in smallholder farmers to become very viable. Through FaaBs, the programme endeavours to re-think its approach from training to empowering smallholder farmers in their different commodities of focus in their respective farming communities. With E-SAPP’s anticipated support to smallholder farmers in various enterprises, it is hoped that smallholder farmers will be able to steadily progress in their enterprises in order to improve their livelihoods through increased food security, nutrition and incomes.

E-SAPP TO SUPPORT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS COUNTRYWIDE

By HAPPY MULOLANI ACCESS to finance among smallholder farmers in Zambia is one of the key challenges affecting their production levels. However, this situation has presented an opportunity for agriculture programmes with an agribusiness focus to come up with strategies and mechanisms aimed at building capacities and equip smallholder farmers through appropriate linkages with key players and stakeholders. Against this backdrop, an intervention programme Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) has come up with mechanisms to empower smallholder farmers who have been classified in different categories meant to strengthen their production capacities. E-SAPP is a seven year programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme is valued at a total cost of US$29.7 million. The major part of financing is $21.2 million which is an IFAD loan, while the Government of the Republic of Zambia will provide $2million. The core financer for the Platform Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) is US$2million. Whereas, the Indaba of Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) will make available US$0.51million. And the private sector and those partnering will provide US$3.46 towards the implementation of the programme. E-SAPP is a programme under the Ministry of Agriculture, which is also the lead agency and implementing agency. Its overall goal is to increase incomes and food and nutrition security to rural households for market oriented agriculture. In a recent orientation meeting for all provincial and district staff on the Matching Grants Facility (MGF) Operational Manual and Guidelines for Southern and Western provinces held in Livingstone, E-SAPP Programme Coordinator Kwibisa Liywalii says the programme is working to build capacity in 61,000 smallholder farmers in 30 focal districts and 60 focal camps countrywide. Its intended goal is to reach out to 40,000 subsistence smallholder farmers in the commodities of focus. “The programme will partner with Market intermediaries (MSMEs) in order to reach out to 16,000 economically active smallholder farmers. It will also partner with large agribusiness players to reach 5,000 commercially active smallholder farmers”, says Mr. Liywalii. The programme will support smallholder farmers engaged in targeted commodities and these are: legumes includes groundnuts, soya beans, and common beans. Others include: livestock, rice and aquaculture. Mr Liywalii urged agriculture field staff that the success of the programme is dependent on their concerted efforts towards building capacity and supporting smallholder farmers in their business enterprises already outlined. And E-SAPP Agribusiness Manager Emmanuel Mulenga says the programme is a multi commodity programme which involves line ministries where commodities are located. The programme endeavours to also provide interventions tailored towards strengthening cooperative societies, which is being implemented by institutions and service providers. “The Ministry of Agriculture is the lead executing agency and will collaborate with other line ministries such as Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Community Development. This is not conclusive, depending on intervention other key programme can also be brought in. This will be implemented through existing structures”, says Mr. Mulenga. He further explains E-SAPP is an agribusiness programme with the Department of Policy and Planning under the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for the overall coordination of the programme in all the provinces through the provincial office which falls under the Provincial Agricultural Coordinator and the Planner. These two provincial staff ensure the execution of activities on the ground is spearheaded by agribusiness and marketing at provincial and district levels. It is envisaged that this process of value chain players and key players’ interaction will facilitate access to markets through sustainable partners. In this way, the Department of Policy and Planning will give overall oversight and coordination in achieving the programmes goals. He adds that E-SAPP will be achieved through two technical components. First, the environment needs to be enabling for the development and growth for agribusiness. This component will be handled by IAPRI who will deal with agriculture policy development to analyse appropriate policies. For example, IAPRI will play a key role in reviewing both old and new various acts and policy documents. This will ensure agribusiness is properly facilitated and implemented by various stakeholders and various actors. Second, the provision of institutional strengthening for agribusiness intervention. This will entail facilitating smallholder farmers increasing their volumes and having access to markets. This will be done through strategic linkages of graduating subsistence farmers. E-SAPP’s inception and its key intervention areas among smallholder farmers has elated key stakeholders, line ministries, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries which will work closely with implementing and executing the programme’s objectives. Southern Province Provincial Agricultural Coordinator Max Choombe says the programme fits well with the ministry’s mandate of agro promotion and business. Dr Choombe advised extension field staff to own the programme and focus on improving farmers livelihoods through capacity building. He further noted that the programme goals will improve farmers’ status given that the majority of farmers in the province are at subsistence level. This implies that the involvement of the programme in agribusiness will trigger increased production of smallholder farmer’s enterprises. Dr Choombe also pointed out that E-SAPP was building on the predecessor programme Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (SAPP) in building capacities in smallholder farmers and strengthening linkages to enable smallholders attain increased food security, nutrition and incomes, which is also in line with the Ministry’s mandate of promoting food security and increased incomes. While, Provincial Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator Charles Lwanga explains that the programme objectives and goals need to be adhered to effectively implement the programme. “It is also important to have mechanisms that will promote self-sustainability for the sake of continuity once the programme phases out”, says Mr. Lwanga. This is on premised on the understanding that many intervention programmes initiated in the past to support smallholder farmers often become white elephants when they phase out. It is hoped once the programme ends with the amount of work and efforts invested in smallholder farmers; it will be sustainable and ensure mechanisms to assure self-sustenance. The progamme appreciates the concerns raised over sustainability given that there have been arguments on many programmes being pro-poor. But, E-SAPP Knowledge Management Officer Mwila Kayula believes that with all the funds pumped in building capacity and empowering smallholders, the programme will set a benchmark to farmers to be self-sustainable once it phases out. E-SAPP’s approach is unique in that they are promoting strategies in order for farmers to develop business acumen in their enterprises. Ultimately, this will inculcate an entrepreneurial culture to enable farmers graduate from farming as a business schools which is meant to impart and equip farmers with business knowledge. Such trainings and capacity building will trigger increased agriculture and livestock production in the province thereby contributing to food security and increased income.