By HAPPY MULOLANI
The Corona Virus pandemic
(COVID-19) has not spared most productive sectors globally, the agriculture sector
is not an exception. In Zambia, the government has prioritized the agriculture
sector as the second most important after mining. Given the status quo, most
farmers especially smallholder farmers have been hit with the pandemic thereby negatively
impacting on their food production and household food security levels in their
respective value chains.
With this realization,
the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) embarked on
COVID-19 Relief measures meant to caution the farmers during the period the
pandemic struck.
The
premise of the COVID-19 Relief was to provide inputs, and other seedlings to
boost the targeted farmers’ households’ food security levels in two selected pilot
districts. The criteria for would be beneficiaries is based on the most food
insecure districts affected by the pandemic and the ones with high levels of
stunting. The idea is to support the targeted beneficiaries to be food secure
during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as to impart beneficiaries with adaptive
and mitigative interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of the
pandemic.
According
to the E-SAPP Concept Note, 150 female headed HHs and female members of
households would initially be targeted in two selected pilot districts. This
approach is expected to assist targeted beneficiaries learn coping strategies “such
as kitchen gardening, food production and preservation skills which includes
learning about other sources of foods such as insects and indigenous fruits and
vegetables in order to contribute to food security.”
“The Food security packs will include legumes, bio fortified crops
(OFSP), fruit and vegetable seeds. The beneficiaries will be encouraged to have
kitchen gardens to fight malnutrition and encourage continuous access to
nutritious foods during the pandemic and beyond. Key identified Partners
include Good Nature Agro, WFP, Harvest Plus, MoA and MFL.” E-SAPP Concept Note,
2020.
One
of the districts where smallholder farmers benefitted from COVID-19 Relief
measures is Isoka in Muchinga province.
A smallholder farmer,
Shepard Sikanika of Nachisungu area in Sansamwenje agriculture camp located 65
kilometres from Isoka, stated that his farm size is three hectares. Mr Sikanika,
is a youth farmer aged 26, married with one child.
Due to the ravaging
effects of COVID-19, he lacked the financial muscle to buy seed and fertilizer
to cultivate for sale and food security purposes.
Mr Sikanika miraculously
survived the effects of the pandemic, when E-SAPP provided relief to him
through his FaaBS. He benefitted sweet potatoes, groundnuts, beans, vegetables
which included Chinese and cabbage seedlings.
“I planted a quarter of a
hectare (35 x35 plot) of vegetables I benefited from the programme,” said Mr
Sikanika.
While for the other
seedlings he received, he managed to cultivate two hectares.
Mr Sikanika disclosed
that he never anticipated that groundnuts were good for nutrition purposes
especially for his children.
“I appreciated the
nutritious value of having meals, especially vegetables mixed with pounded
groundnuts, for my family,” he disclosed.
Besides the nutrition
value, he managed to raise enough funds after selling groundnuts which assisted
to meet his family obligations.
Other than using
groundnuts for nutritious purposes, he had his groundnuts processed into oil. The
processed oil was utilized for home consumption and raised an income by selling
part of it. This income raised was used to meet family needs.
“I was able to raise
funds to provide for my family and take care of other household necessities as
well as fertilizer to apply in my field,” an elated Mr Sikanika said.
Another beneficiary
farmer, Tabo Nalwamba, a smallholder farmer in Nachisungu area under
Sansamwenje Agriculture Camp in Isoka district of Muchinga province, is one of
the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 Relief.
Ms Nalwamba narrates at
the time E-SAPP gave her groundnuts, oranges, cabbage, seedlings and empty
50kilogramme bags, she literally had lost hope of cultivating last farming
season due to no seedlings. Equally, she lacked finances to purchase seedlings
and fertilizer for her crops, not until E-SAPP came to her aid.
“I didn’t have seedlings
in December, 2020. I was worried how I would support my household,” Ms Nalwamba
said.
She explained that after being
given seedlings, she managed to plant Chinese and cabbage on a quarter of a
lima. She was overjoyed because her crop stand performed extremely well due to
the good rainfall.
Ms Nalwamba revealed that
after harvesting, she earned an income after selling some of her produce, which
assisted in paying for her children’s school fees.
For Ms Nalwamba, a lesson
learnt is that vegetables can be grown all year round in order to have a regular
income.
“I realised I should not
depend on rainfed crops only but engage in irrigation during the dry season in
order to have constant flow of income to sustain my family, since I grow
vegetables for both home consumption and for sale,” Ms Nalwamba said.
The COVID-19 Relief has boosted
the food security levels and provided a steady flow of income for the needy smallholder
farmers in the district, which was not only timely but a good initiative. This
should serve as an eye opener for farmers to always plan ahead amidst the
pandemic.
