-
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
Blogroll
Category Archives: Markets
Maize farmers still waiting for payment from Food Reserve Agency
Maize farmers in Makwatata, like hundreds of thousands of farmers all over Zambia, have been left unpaid by the government’s Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for last year’s harvest, and many are struggling to make ends meet as the rainy season … Continue reading
Access to knowledge and markets makes farming a profitable business
John Mwale is one of Makwatata’s most successful smallholder farmers. In his garden, he grows tomatoes, cabbages, rape, okra, beans and pumpkins, but on a much larger scale than most other farmers in the village. There are just 15 families … Continue reading
Farmers groups benefit from government and NGO support
All over Zambia, smallholder farmers are benefiting from improved access to resources, knowledge and markets by becoming a member of a local group or co-operative. Unis Neayu was one of the founding members of the Chiyanjano Women’s Group in Makwatata. … Continue reading
Smallholder farming and food security in Makwatata
When I ask about challenges facing the people of Makwatata in their day to day lives, almost every adult has a common response – providing enough food to feed their family throughout the year. The vast majority of households in … Continue reading
Village blacksmith hammers hoes from scrap metal
The clanking of a blacksmith’s hammer echoes through the bush at the entrance to Makwatata’s gardens, 1.5km from the village. Blackson Newali is sitting in the shade of a mango tree at the edge of his farm, hammering scrap metal … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Development, Enterprise, Farming, Markets, Poverty, Zambia
Tagged blacksmith, diversification, enterprise, family, income, opportunity, poverty, self help africa, subsistence farming, trade, training, zambia
Leave a comment
Makwatata, from dawn to dusk
It is 4.45am in Makwatata, and the dawn is beginning to creep its way through the village. The window in my hut is so small that I can’t yet see that it is getting bright, but I know the new … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Culture, Development, Farming, Markets, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Women, Zambia
Tagged agriculture, farming, life, people, poverty, rural community, self help africa, tribal, village, zambia
Leave a comment
Irish Aid’s work in Zambia
While visiting the Embassy in Lusaka last week to hear about the work of Irish Aid in Zambia, the Irish Ambassador Tony Cotter proudly explained to me the long-established connection between Ireland and Zambia, which stretches back to the arrival … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture, Development, Education, Enterprise, Farming, Health, HIV/AIDS, Markets, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty, Zambia
Tagged agriculture, charity, development, education, health, HIV, irish aid, MDG, poverty, self help africa, support, zambia
Leave a comment
A Village in Africa 