By Rabecca Mwila, Staff Writer For decades, millions of smallholder farmers in Africa have been using chemical inputs including fertilisers and pesticides to grow their crops. Unknown to them, many of the pesticides are banned in European countries due to their negative effects on human health and the environment. A coalition of civil society organisations…
By Rabecca Mwila, Staff Writer Farmers in Chama District of Eastern Zambia continue to suffer devastating crop losses due to increasing human-wildlife conflict, a situation agricultural authorities say is threatening food security and rural livelihoods. Chama lies largely within the Musalangu Game Management Area, a wildlife buffer zone connected to major conservation areas, including North…
By Odette Mavunga, Curator of Mizizi Kitchen Before a dish reaches the table, it carries a story _ of land, tradition, family, and identity. For Zambian food storyteller Clara Kapelembe Bwali, food is more than nourishment; it is a way of preserving culture and sharing African stories with the world. Known as Black Garlic, Clara…
By Maureen Kawerama, Malawi Youth in Monkey-bay, Mangochi District in eastern Malawi, have turned to agribusiness as a way of creating employment and generating income to support themselves and their families under the banner of Monkey-Bay Youth Empowerment Cooperative (MOYEMCO). The youth of MOYEMCO are engaged in bird’s eye chilli farming and processing in pursuit…
By Juliet Makwama, Zambia In Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia, a quiet climate revolution is taking root through hydroponics farming and young people are leading. In Chongwe District, brothers Victor Kayombo, Kennedy Lubeka and Henry Nabende have spent the last two years proving that farmers do not need huge hectares of land to farm…
By Andrew Joseph Kauwa , Malawi Malawi is one of several southern African countries facing worsening food insecurity as climate change, recurring extreme weather events and the rising cost of agricultural inputs place increasing pressure on smallholder farmers. According to Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture, the country remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, including cyclones and…
By Marcia Moyana South Africa’s small-scale farmers are bracing for another El Niño as meteorologists confirm predictions for the weather phenomenon… According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), forecasts show an 80% likelihood of the weather phenomenon developing between June and August, and a near or above 90% chance that it will persist into November. …
By Samuel Mbewe, Zambia For years, the rhythm of life in Rufunsa District was dictated by the rains. When the rains came, families planted their crops with hope. When they failed, hunger and uncertainty followed… Like many smallholder farmers across Zambia, communities in Chisunka Irrigation Scheme and Chawola Agricultural Camp depended entirely on rain-fed agriculture….
By Thozama Dilata, South Africa When Oscar Dumakude bought his first goat in 2016, he did not expect climate change to become one of the biggest threats to his livelihood. From his home in Vilalisa, Vosloorus, South Africa, Dumakude has built a small livestock farming operation through determination and self-learning. What began with the sale…
Across Africa, women and youth are playing a critical role in agriculture, food systems and community development. Yet despite their energy, innovation and growing involvement, many still face significant barriers to meaningful participation and leadership. Barriers include access to knowledge, mentorship, financing and policy spaces. With nearly 60% of Africa’s population under the age of…