By GLORIA SIWISHA
WHEN Chrisave Chirwa, 58, of Phalaza Camp in Lundazi district, completed secondary education some four (4) decades ago, he took up smallholder agriculture, almost immediately, to relieve his parents of the burden of fending for his and his siblings’ needs.
“I was producing cotton, maize, soybean and groundnuts, but the yields and incomes remained significantly low, fuelled by a lack of appropriate farming equipment, erratic rainfall, and declining soil fertility, largely as a result of poor farming methods,” Chrisave recalled.
In 2019, whilst trying to find answers to the low yields, Chrisave, joined the Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems (SIFAZ) project in Zambia, an initiative which is funded by the European Union, and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and CIMMYT.
Being a beneficiary of the programme, came with an opportunity for him to participate in a mechanization training held at M’sekera Research Station in Chipata district, whose objective was to promote the use of appropriate mechanization across all value chains, for increased productivity and efficiency, and utilization of mechanization, to expand the amount of land under production, thus, maximizing farm outputs.
These trainings are also aimed at, among other things, creating an enabling environment where interested farmers could access mechanization through Government support programmes, agricultural credit loans, and matching grants, to make equipment more affordable.
“I learned at that training that beneficiaries could access loans with flexible re-payment terms from SIFAZ, to enable us acquire a two-wheel tractor and trailer, with its several attachments such as, planters, rippers, disc harrows, as well as threshers and shellers, so that we could offer mechanization services affordably, in communities where we come from. This information pleased me and that is why when the call was made for farmers to apply for loans, I expressed interest quickly and successfully accessed the loan upon committing to paying the required down-payment of K10, 000. The balance, was to be paid gradually as the tractor would be used to provide mechanization services at a fee, and provide transport services, and other agricultural works,” Chrisave narrated.
Since acquisition of the equipment, Chrisave has operationalized mechanization service provision successfully in his camp, expanding his maize production from 6 hectares in 2020, to 15 hectares during the 2024 – 2025 farming season.
He has also scaled soybean production to seven (7) hectares per annum.
Further, community members in his area, can easily access mechanization services at a fee, allowing them to cultivate their crops on time, and complete labour-intensive tasks faster.
This has led to better yields and incomes, and a consistent supply of nutritious foods for their households.
Chrisave also offers threshing services, enabling farmers to process their agricultural produce efficiently, and contributing to better food distribution and storage.
As demand grows, Chrisave envisions transforming his operations into a hub for agricultural mechanization, delivering long-term economic growth, and ensuring food security, not only for his household and community, but the nation as well.
“In the next two (2) years, I hope to have acquired a full set of mechanization equipment to enable me expand production to 25 hectares. I also hope to purchase a 15-tonne tractor to facilitate movement of produce to the market. That way, I would be effectively supporting my community’s agricultural ventures,” he said.
Mechanization service provision has also had a great impact on the socio-economic well-being of Chrisave’s family.
“I have not only improved yields, but also increased incomes from K300 previously, to earning over K200,000 per annum. With the expanded income, I support my children’s education – the eldest who is currently pursuing a degree in agriculture at a university in the neighbouring Malawi, as I want him to continue the legacy,” he said happily.
Chrisave has also moved his family from an old-thatched house to a brand new one that’s roofed with iron sheets, whilst putting another on rent in Mwase area, where he is also constructing a grocery store.
That’s not all. He has used part of his earnings to purchase a motor vehicle, to aid his family’s movements.
Today, Chrisave is a model farmer in mechanization service provision, thereby commanding considerable respect and admiration from communities around him.
“Mechanization is certainly a game-changer for smallholder agriculture in Zambia, especially as the world grapples with issues of climate change,” Chrisave said.
The change in Chrisave’s has been made possible due to the European Union-funded SIFAZ Project, implemented by FAO in close collaboration with CIMMYT and the Ministry of Agriculture. The Project has its presence in 27 districts, including Lundazi, across the three agroecological regions, targeting to benefit 60,000 smallholder farmers by 2027.
ENDS……………..PIX
