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.

THE EXPO NORTHWEST ZAMBIA 2019

By HAPPY MULOLANI- The theme of the NorthWest expo is : the hidden treasure of Northwest! Expos are among one of the ways in which provinces market themselves through showcasing the natural resources and beauty that provinces are endowed with. National Coordinator Christopher Bwalya described Northwestern as one of the provinces where hope of rest as the mineral resources. Gold, copper, fertile soils, abundant rains and strategic location. Its boundaries with the Democratic Republic of Congo and provides opportunities with other gate ways. It has abundant resources in the forms of human resource, semi skilled. The province has immense resources, it has all it takes to be a ''hub of Zambia.''The northwest is a province that we will all be looking forward to. How does sustain how this expo, its to invest heavily in technology. Models of e-library to process information and also train youths through facilities that will empower youths. North Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu in his keynote address at Taj Pamdozi hotel in Lusaka, said the event is of significance in that it signifies the importance of the upcoming expo dubbed expo ''2019: unveiling hidden treasures''. The province has 11 districts with Solwezi as the provincial capital. Each of the districts presents unique potential. "We share boundaries with Angola, and Congo. Noting that this strategic location provides potential leading to access to large markets. Little was known about this province save for it being the lest developed". The north west is now referred to the new ''Copperbelt of Zambia'' because of discovery of large mineral deposits. It is also home to some of the largest mines - Kansanshi, Lumwana and several other mines dotted across the province. Some of the common minerals include copper, cobalt, gold, among others. The province is not only endowed with mining but livestock and aquaculture development. It also has pinepal, honey, and maize grain and the famous solwezi beans. This makes it a suitable region for agricultural production. In addition, it is also a major producer of timber. Overall, the connection of the province to the national grid positions its to the outside world in real time. In the tourism sector, Zambezi river makes it renowned as province. Mr Mubukwani observes that although not much has been published in recognition of the national heritage. "We are home to various national parks, Kafue, west lunga and Zambezi grass lands in far west. He notes the essence of the expo is to market all these tourist sites in these places. "We are home to Chiengi and various civilization caves dotted around the province. Rich cultural diversity comprising diverse cultures in order to attract tourists who will turn boost revenue and forex to the country. With with the current population boom, there's increased population to meet demands of the prevailing trend. The expo will be held between 18-24 August, 2019 in Solwezi. This will be a unique time to unveil the hidden treasure of Zambia. It will be a special trend that brings both local and foreign institutions-industries engaged in agriculture research, education, mining, tourism and place special emphasis on participation of youth people. It will give opportunity to develop immense tools aimed at attracting investment into the province of diversified agriculture and forest, manufacturing and seek value addition. In this way, it will contribute to actualization of the investment in the province. Some of the specific objectives of the expo will be to compile market profiles, to promote real time interactions with key stakeholders, traditional leaders. To trigger investment attracting both local and foreign investors by providing key information to offer economic options they can tap. The expo will bring about true value, such investment will stimulate growth across all sectors. Minister Mubukwanu made a passionate appeal to all stakeholders and players to generously support this cause, as this event is a timely cause of bringing in financial resources. He called on the media to fully engage in documenting all pertinent sectors through all forms of media avenues such as - features, news packages, documentaries. Mr Mubukwanu appealed for creativity adding that the more reason of hosting this media breakfast was to ensure all stakeholders and media play an active role in dissemination of the build up to the expo. Building this partnership with the media is not only unique but will be impactful in the provision of the free flow of information It is anticipated that these expo conversations will step up and include all players ranging from mall scale, commercial, entrepreneurs. Other successful expos hosted are Luapula and Northern provinces. Government intends to open up this country side to open up and investment opportunities for meaningful investment.

Masculinity and popular culture

In my Master's degree thesis;I take a keen interest on masculinity and popular culture. Here is the link to my thesis:http://vital.seals.ac.za:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:30736?site_name=GlobalView&exact=sm_creator%3A%22Mulolani%2C%20Happy%22&sort=sort_ss_title%2F&fbclid=IwAR3uAjxcXUWLkx6OATSY9GhZyqAvyvq1HZdYhqkzmivWYDtW0-OwmVGtQDo

STUDENT PROTESTS

BY HAPPY MULOLANI Student protests in 2015 resulted in the creation of a movement which became very instrumental in the FeesMustFall campaigns. This movement calls for higher education to become more accessible to less privileged. Social media played a critical role in this cause in that students constructions and representations in the media reflect the tensions existing within these social spaces across universities in South Africa. 2015 marked the year when there was a class struggle which enabled societal shift in terms of transformation. Something significant happens which is symbolic for students and as they describe it, it is a hard won and deep transformation''Reality is a discursive construction'' In the study, who is speaking,when do students speak, when do authorities act! An examination of this subject matter through textual analysis is material and symbolic, in that there is a shift in society as students erupt. It's interesting to explore how discourses around fees must fall campaigns shift and how the government through the ministry of higher education has taken into account free education according to various student's categories. However, the question is how sustainable is free education and for how long will it exist? What options or mechanisms exist to sustain it. While the use of technology in particular, social media has enabled the students struggles to be addressed but for how long. It is these discussions and debates that social media builds on given that these inequalities have existed for years.

Launch of Sigh the Beloved Country

Bongani Madondo, aged 45, is a curator, amateur filmmaker and writer. He is author of the book ‘’Sigh the Beloved Country.’’ He has extensively written on subjects centring on art, rock and roll. His written other books such as Hot Type: Artists, Icons and God-Figurines, and I’m Not Your Weekend Special: The Art, Life and Politics of Brenda Fassie. Suffice to say, he is the first Black South African writer to write about Kwaito music. Madondo said at a book launch in Grahamstown yesterday, that he was motivated to write about kwaito music because of the distinctiveness of the genre and that he wanted to be the first black writer to give an account of Kwaito music. ’’The growing popularity of kwaito music was rapid in the 1990’s and l wanted to be the first to tell the story as an indigenous African writer, often such stories are told by white people for black people, which l did not want to happen because as a black person, l felt duty bound to give a detailed account of the uniqueness of kwaito music as a genre that associates with African identity,’’said Madondo. Interestingly, as a journalist, he treats interviews as a ‘ritual’ which he finds boring and less thought provoking. Madondo believes that people do not often tell their full version of their stories because the spaces they engage in, tend to dictate what they are compelled to say. As a result, they engage in performance in the way they tell their narratives. In turn, this influences the way their views are constructed and represented in their various accounts. Madondo ‘s views resonates with Goffman(1969), who is of the view that individuals engage in performance on the front stage as what they portray does not necessarily reflect who they are because of the way they express themselves and the positions they hold out of their personal convictions.He is of the view, that the reason why journalists end up with incomplete articles is because of the stiff deadlines they need to adhere to, which compromises the quality of interviews as they are not able to get the best out of their interviews. However, he prefers a more ethnographic approach that allows a writer to spend more time with their subjects to learn more about them in different spaces, only then can views that truly reflect their accounts be extracted and reflected in various articles. Madondo argues for this position because it enrichens histories and accounts that people are able to tell. Madondo highlights capitalism and race in his book as problematic and calls for an immediate panacea in order to have a better society. He also points out that some of the models proposed by some of Africa’s great thinkers and writers such as Fanon, Kwame Nkrumah among others, are old and not applicable in this age because their ideals and proposed solutions, admittedly, are not feasible because they do not adequately contribute to reformation of the system neither do they offer better solutions that can address the magnitude of societal problems in this era. He argues that structural concerns such as capitalism and its systemic problems that continue to perpetuate inequality in society are based on ‘whiteness’ and ‘blackness.’ Capitalism privileges ‘whiteness’ over ‘blackness’ because of the structures that allow this phenomena to prevail, which has resulted in very uncomfortable tensions. Madondo stresses that 'whiteness' also involves 'blackness' because its origins are as a result of the complex relations that have led to white domination over blacks. Madondo is also of the view that ‘whiteness’ needs to be dealt with by whites themselves and ‘blackness’ also needs to be dealt with by black themselves because none of the concepts are ideal for societal progression. Rhodes University Media Studies Professor Jeanne Prinsloo posits that people are not born racist, it is the structures that they are socialised into that naturalises racism and makes them racists. And Philosopher Stuart Hall postulates that race is a social marker that orders society. However, Hall emphasis is centred on race creating orderliness through differentiation and not necessarily creating racism that embraces discriminatory tendencies such as apartheid, which has been practised and perpetuated through colonialism over a historic times. Recounting Madondo’s views, it has to take the will of the people to reform capitalism. Clearly, capitalism is not an ideal model that benefits society because of it's degree of alienation in terms of the ‘have nots’ as Karl Marx refers to them. It clearly perpetuates a class system that culminates in domination, and falls short of equality. As long as there is no willingness to deal with capitalism and race, these ills will remain thorny issues in society. Therefore, there is need for continued scholarly engagement that will seek to address and contribute to social change in society.