About 1,500 drought-hit smallholder farmers in three districts in Zambia are targeted for information sharing on how nature-based solutions can transform the country’s food systems into resilient and inclusive policies.
By Alfonso Kasongo
This is to promote biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and resilience, as well as improve livelihoods in Sibuynji, Chirundu, and Chikankata districts of Zambia.
Recently, Zambia, like many other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, experienced El Niño weather conditions that caused severe drought, leading to nearly 100 percent crop failure in 84 of the country’s 116 districts.
Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT)-Zambia, a non-profit organization working in rural areas to improve food and nutrition security and livelihoods through the promotion of farmers’ seed systems, has partnered with Seed Knowledge Initiatives (SKI) to line up a series of seed and food fairs to disseminate information on how the farmers can benefit from smart agriculture.
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CTDT-Zambia communication officer Diana Mapulanga says the fairs provide an awareness platform for farmer-managed systems and agroecology.
“We are targeting around 1,500 farmers. The purpose of the seed fairs is to disseminate information. It’s an awareness platform for farmer-managed systems and agroecology,” Ms Mapulanga explains.
The fairs are being held under the theme: Nature-Based Solutions: Building Resilient Food Systems Through Inclusive Policies.
About the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI): It is a dynamic partnership of diverse Southern African organizations committed to securing food sovereignty in the region.
It works with smallholder farmers to become more seed, food, and nutritionally secure through farmer-led seed systems, improved crop diversity, and the revival of local knowledge systems.
