February 2, 2021
Ongoing projects
Full name: Increasing productivity and supporting the development of mango, cassava and organic fertilizer value chains in Western Province, Zambia
Duration: September 2020 - December 2022
Zambia is an agrarian-industrial lower-middle income Country with relatively high poverty levels and large income disparity. Western Province is one of the poorest provinces with about 80% of its 1 million population living under the poverty line. Predominantly, the rural population gains its livelihood from subsistence agriculture with low productivity crop and animal production, supplemented by fishery. The main crops grown mostly for own consumption in the Province include maize, cassava, millet, rice and sorghum. Crop production is characterized by low productivity which is caused by low input supplies, low mechanisation and traditional ineffective farming methods. Crops are affected by pests and diseases – for example army worms destroying maize or rice blood affecting yield were common in recent years. Limited mechanisation and use of ox-plough or more often hand implements is time and labour intensive. Limited access to inputs results in use of recycled, low quality and low-yielding seeds.
Project Goal:
The project aims at supporting value addition and contributing to agricultural productivity through realisation of five selected business plans. The implementation of this project builds on the outcomes of the first phase of the project named Farmers Capacity Building Focusing on Value Chains Development (implemented by Caritas Czech Republic as well), where 2 mango, 2 cassava and 1 cashew value chain business plans were selected from emerging farmers-businessmen.
Implementation and results:
- Establishment of processing operation for 5 businesses- machinery and equipment, constructing/ adjusting relevant premises
- 5 selected businesses have established production through at least 1 product and long-term agreement with at least 1 buyer and will have at least 2 ways to promote their production.
- Selected businesses have improved business management and record-keeping with valid business registration and access to formal financial services.
- Selected businesses have continuous supply of quality raw material through capacity building and support of at least 90 farmers in cassava and mango production.
Partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague and University of Barotseland
Budget: 15 251 130 CZK
Donors: Czech Development Agency
