IDSP BUILDS CAPACITY IN MUSAKASI FARMERS

By HAPPY MULOLANI Since government’s prioritizing the agriculture sector, there have been a number of interventions aimed at promoting the adoption of technologies by small-scale farmers through increased food security and income. This is eminent through government’s effort of promoting irrigation farming through Irrigation Development Support Programme (IDSP), a programme supported by World Bank among small-scale farmers in Musakashi resettlement scheme in Mufulira. The resettlement scheme is expected to become fully functional once the construction works of the multi-million dollar irrigation facility is complete in October this year. But, one source of concern is sustainability of the progamme once IDSP phases out. Admittedly, most projects which have come on board to provide interventions in the agriculture sector meant to upscale food security and increased incomes of small-scale farmers have become white elephants after their completion. This trend is attributed to lack of proper mechanisms when projects phase-out that ensure sustainability. With this concern in mind, the project has exposed farmers to a number of trainings and exposure visits in order to draw vital lessons from some of the best practices and success stories in other countries where irrigation farming has been intensified and farmers have excelled in their farming enterprises. On this premise, IDSP’s approach has been to build capacity in farmers through trainings and exposure visits. Through these trainings and exposure visits, farmers have been equipped with appropriate knowledge to apply in their farming enterprises. Musakashi Community Land Trust Secretary Elvis Mwansa cites a trip that IDSP sponsored for identified small-scale farmers in Musakashi to Swaziland. The farmers learnt how farmers in that country had taken farming as a business and were successful in their various farming enterprises. “In Swaziland, I met farmers who had been become rich just by practicing irrigation farming. That is when I got motivated to embark on irrigation farming given the abundant arable land which we possess in Musakashi,” says Mr. Mwansa. He points out the project’s approach of exposing farmers in Musakashi to trainings and exposure visits has not only been an eye-opener but also given them ideas to explore a lot of avenues to sustain their livelihoods. “The trainings have had a positive impact in our farming enterprises as we have been able to identify profitable crops such as cabbage, egg plants and other products to supply the readily available market,” said Mr. Mwansa. He says the exposure visits and trainings have contributed to a change of mind-set among most small-scale farmers to not only venture into agriculture for food security purposes but to seriously take farming as a business and realize an income for their households. Grievance Committee member Alice Mukwata echoes similar sentiments that the trainings in market research are an eye-opener to potential products and markets. “Empowering us with skills on how to identify market linkages with food chain stores like Food Lovers, Shoprite and Pick and Pay among others is beneficial to us because it gives ideas of the demands of the market”, Mrs. Mukwata. Musakashi District Liaison Officer Abraham Mulenga says farmers business trainings has resulted in establishing linkages with potential markets –both locally and beyond the borders such as Kasumbalesa. Mr. Mulenga says farmers have been equipped with skills on how to conduct market research. The acquired skills allow farmers to position themselves as they assess specific valuable crops with a readily available market. “Market research skills have compelled farmers to grow only crops which are viable for the market and targeted at specific buyers on the market, as doing so will prevent crop losses” he says. And Committee Land Trust Chairperson Stanford Nyendwa revealed that ever since government resettled and compensated some farmers in Musakasi area, they have been empowered with knowledge on irrigation farming which is useful and will ensure they make profits once the scheme is operationalised. “Irrigation farming has helped us realize that there are a lot of farming enterprises we can engage ourselves such as cabbage production. Such enterprises are bearing fruit as they are contributing to increased food security and incomes in our community” said Mr. Nyendwa. These trainings have potentially exposed farmers to other successful farmers. This positions farmers’ to come up with strategies aimed at making irrigation farming profitable. Mr. Nyendwa reveals it is unique for farmers to undertake market surveys by themselves. It allows them to see the viability of specific crops on the market before in engaging in irrigation farming. This enables them to ascertaining what crops to grow in their irrigation agriculture activities. “As farmers, we are not dependent on experts or agriculture or project staff doing market surveys for us because they have equipped us with knowledge and skills on how to conduct market surveys after undergoing trainings,” says Mr. Nyendwa. IDSP Economist Michael Kabwe says the programme has allowed farmers to not only go on such exposure visits internationally to draw on lessons and best practices of what other farmers have achieved in their farming enterprises. But also enables them implement sustainable practices within their local farming context. Mr. Kabwe explains that IDSP is also offering support through matching grants to farmers in tier 1 and tier 2, whereas tier 3 is a commercially viable category which will ensure the promotion of out-grower schemes among the smallholder farmers. Matching grants are meant to provide financing for farmers on farm implements such as equipment. The grants are co-financed with beneficiaries. Matching grants fall into five categories. Firstly, on farm irrigation equipment such as sprinklers, dip, centre pivotal among others. Secondly, aquaculture post harvest mechanization equipping farmers with tractors, ploughs, storage. This equipment is meant to avert post harvest losses. Thirdly, funds are provided for non-traditional production such as biogas production, production of biofuel among others. Fourth, seed working capital. This refers to start-up capital meant to assist acquire inputs, fertilizer, and pesticides. And lastly, matching grants for marginalized groups which require support. This category is considered as specialized financing for women and vulnerable people. The fund covers this category 100 percent as long as it is an identified need. Such financing of these different categories being offered to small-scale farmers will commence once the schemes are fully operational. Through matching grants, it is hoped the low uptake of irrigation farming among small-scale farmers will be enhanced as the facility is expected to adequately support them engage in their farming enterprises. IDSP’s support towards small-scale farmers through trainings and exposure visits is tailored towards re-thinking the sustenance of farmers’ enterprises. It is envisaged that as the programme phases out, farmers will be able to continue to sustain their farming enterprises through irrigation farming.