SHE ENTREPRENEUR WOMEN IN AGRIBUISNESS CONFERENCE

By MERCY NAMFUKWE

The She Entrepreneur Zambia has held the largest conference for women in Agri business, under the theme: Women in Agribusiness, navigating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies brought together women who came on board to share their journey and successful stories in agribusiness.

The largest conference which was powered by SEEDCO Zambia took place on Saturday 21^st September 2024 in Lusaka, was aimed at addressing issues and to find solutions on how women farmers in agribusiness can be helped to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Director for Small and Medium enterprise Development (SME’s), under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Bernadette Mwakacheya says the 4^th   edition of women in agribusiness conference is not only a celebration for agribusiness but also a platform to address the challenges of climate change mitigation, essential to strive in gender equality and environmental sustainability amidst climate shock.

“As government, we are proud to see more women and youth led interventions in agribusiness which has now turned out as the largest conference for women in this sector,” she stated.

She expressed her gratitude to the women who came on board to the conference and contributed massively to the growth of the sector and to also contribute to food security in the country. She was speaking on behalf of the Minister of SMEs through a speech in Lusaka recently.

“As we navigate the challenges of climate change, it is important to acknowledge that the impact is more on the woman especially those who are basedin the rural areas are the most affected, women are faced with other challenges that include access to land, finance, education and lack of access to information and technology.

She emphasized on the need to unlock the potential for women in agriculture and other business ventures to enable them to adapt to climate change and to mitigate these challenges. The Ministry has introduced programs in rural areas and strategies that can help women in Agribusiness and to create an enabling environment through the government and the private sector collaboration.

“Government has implemented strategies that are designed to support SMEs were women have access to mechanization programs through the Citizen Economic Empowerment commission, to acquire access to loans of up to 3 million kwacha for energy related programs and 2 million kwacha for mechanization to enable SMEs to procure equipments such as irrigation and solar equipment, to enhance production and to reduce the burden on farmers especially in rural are as,” Ms Mwakacheya said.  

Speaking at the same event, Head of Sales and Marketing Coordinator for SEEDCO vegetables, Katende Malatji said in line with the theme, SEEDCO has invested in research and genetic programs which they feel are suitable for the farmers to obtain the required yields from farming.

She said that to navigate climate change adaptation, SEEDCO has avast variety of products from field crops to horticulture production. Despite having variety of crops, she notes that most farmers are lacking proper planning when it comes good farming practices like soil testing.

She said SEEDCO has done all the necessary research to make sure that the farmers are provided with the farming basket of processing and marketing of seed varieties to make sure that the farmers meet the national goal.

She further advised farmers to plan and to seek for guidance from trained agronomists and to plan on how to obtain the desired results from the crops as well as to improve yields.  because every farm has different nutritional properties, therefore the need to seek the right advise.

And CEO for Eezee Noodle’s, Monica Musonda says she decided to join agribusiness, in 2012. she thought on the importance of making tomato paste using raw materials, on which later came up with an initiative on how to make noodles using raw materials, despite having limited capital she decided to start producing locally made noodles using wheat.

“For things to change for women in agribusiness, there is need for financial discipline, hence you have to have a mindset skill for the business to thrive, ”she stated.

She notes that business in Zambia is a challenge and there is need for women to advocate for policies and   notes that this would take concerted effort for women to share knowledge, adding that if women come together through groupings and understanding the skill can enhance their businesses.

She further said this can be achieved through access to opportunities in manufacturing and food processing, noting that there is now an increase of women who are successful in agribusiness, she encouraged other women to think big despite some challenges that they may encounter in their businesses.

Additionally, Due to effects of climate change, women are battling with solutions on how they can manage to use low energy cost machines for their businesses to keep thriving.

She said since she started using equipments from John Deere her work is done more effectively because the equipment's are serviced, adding that the equipment is not cheap to purchase but choosing mechanization services for JohnDeere has enhanced her farming activities.

“It is difficult for a farmer to use a hole (Kambwili) to make the work easier and making use of mechanization equipment's such as tractors is faster than using hand activities can consume time for a farmer.

Interestingly, the conference also included other sponsors such as Syngenta Zambia, Grow more technologies, Livestock services, Wattles and combs feed, FNB Zambia, Prudential Zambia, Access Bank Zambia limited Altus Financial Services, Agri Predict, Tuje Farm, Chipembi college of Agriculture, Silva Food Solutions, Makeni Seedlings , Audio Block innovations and University of Lusaka.

The conference also included key speakers inclusive of women in agribusiness include: Slyvia Banda, Mercy Chisi Sakala, Audrey Mutinta Chibuulaand Zewelanji Sinkala -Mbao, to mention a few. Shared their journey and successful stories in agribusiness.

They further encouraged other women to emulate them in taking agribusiness seriously as they feel that the journey can not be all rosy but it can also come with some challenges which they need to endure with for their businesses to thrive.

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