ENVIRONMENT AFRICA ZAMBIA TRAINS OVER 600 FARMERS

By LAWRENCE KABUTU

 ENVIRONMENT Africa Zambia has accelerated the smart agricultural technologies by training over 600 smallholder female headed farmer households in Zimba district of Southern Province.

Environment Africa Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Dr. Muyobozi Sikalubya noted that the600 farmers were also supported with agricultural inputs by his project during the previous season.

 Dr. Sikalubya also noted that the other activities aimed at mitigating the negative effects of climate change are carried in 5 wards namely Bbwiko, Chalimongela, Simwatachela, Luyaba, and Zimba Mangonda.

 He said the project is funded by Kinder Not Hilfe (KNG) and Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)from German.

He further said 500 youths in Zimba District have been incorporated in Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies trainings as ambassadors in scaling up activities in the agricultural sector.

 Dr. Sikalubya also revealed that over 3,000 School going children are receiving support in 10 schools in the district from the project.

And Climate Change and Self-Help Officer Kelvin Songolo named the Project as Building Capacity of Children, Young People, Small Holder should Cope with the Negative Impact of Climate Change.

Mr. Songolo observed that the project has since established Self Help groups that are similar to Cooperatives and engaged in other alternative livelihood activities such as bee keeping.

He asserted that the self-help groups have been empowered to open micro Loan facilities and have been linked to various markets to be able to sell their products.

Mr. Songolo reaffirmed that the micro loan facility will be accessed by other groups to enable them engage in activities implemented by Self Help groups that have been empowered in a bid to improve the Communities’ livelihoods.

He said all activities are aimed at preventing and mitigating the effects of Climate Change which do not affect the environment negatively.

And Zimba District Commissioner Robson Mulamfu says the adverse effects of Climate Change have contributed greatly to poor crop yields and livestock condition.

Mr. Mulamfu called on farmers to take responsibility to find ways of adapting tothe effects of climate change.

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