By Daniel Kalala (KATC) Community Based Agrobiodiversity Management (CBAM)/Sustainable Livelihood Project

The objective This project aimed at:  Promoting sustainable agricultural practices to 500 smallholder farmers in Chongwe district.  Supporting farmers to conserve, use and develop genetic diversity of local crops both for food security, and for climate change adaptation Project main goal:  Sustainable Food Security in Chongwe, Zambia Outcomes:  Target households achieve food security throughout the year  Adaptive capacity of farming communities increased

What EBA Techniques were used?  The project promoted sustainable organic agriculture (SOA) to enable SSFs increase and maintain their farm productivity and to easily adapt and become resilient to effects of climate.  The project aimed at addressing issues of food, nutrition and income insecurity caused largely by low soil fertility, climate change, poor agricultural practices, limited access to quality seed, high cost of inputs.  The project was implemented over 3 years from 2011 to 2014  The target were 500 small scale farmer’s households in five agricultural camps of Chongwe district.

Promotion of SOA practices - Small scale compost making 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

Promotion of often neglected crops – farmer weeding his field of pigeon peas 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

Project stake-holders and their roles in the project 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015 Stakeholders Why are they involved? How are they involved? When might they be involved? Stakeholders’ project related activities Traditional Chiefs & Headmen Project acceptance and Ownership Awareness creation, community mobilization, lobbying and advocacy Throughout the project esp. during community mobilization stage The Headmen and Chiefs have endorsed the project in their chiefdom and villages. Chongwe Organic Producers Processors Association (CHOPPA) Sustainability purposes (Organisation owned by small-scale organic producers and processors) Farmer mobilization, market facilitation Throughout the project Farmers will be linked to CHOPPA in year 2012/13. Yatsani Radio Awareness creation and training Radio program recording and airing Throughout the project Radio Yatsani has continued to air project programmes. Silva Food SolutionsMarket linkages Training farmers in food preservation and offering farmers market for dry local vegetables 2012 and onwards Farmers are happy to be linked to a viable and reliable market such as Silva Food Solutions. Seed Control and Certification Institute Advisory and Seed certification Training, inspections, testing and certification Throughout the project SCCI has continued to offer advice, training, inspection, testing and certification services to the project Ministry of Agriculture – Chongwe District Extension service and sustainability Extension service, lobbying and advocacy Throughout the project MACO has continued to be very supportive to the project. Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection Awareness creation at all levels (community, relevant institution and government) Lobbying and advocacy Throughout the project KATC and the project have continued to work with JCTR for agricultural related lobbying and advocacy.

Food and nutritional security Outcome 1: Target households achieve food security throughout the year IndicatorBaseline value Actual value yr 1 Actual value yr 2Actual value yr 3 Number of households with energy food reserves in critical months (Dec- March) 224 households 224 (44.8%) 390 (78%) 307 male-headed 83 female-headed 410 (82%) 250 male-headed 160 female-headed Increased number of different food groups consumed in targeted households 2266 % increase in income from sale of crops and livestock produced on the farmers’ own farm ZMK 2,318,884 per HH from maize sales 20% 35% No. of clubs/ groups/ cooperatives that have sales/selling agreements with commercial entities e.g. shops, super markets, etc. No clubs with agreement 055 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

Promotion of indigenous crops SSF harvesting her lumanda 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

SSF’s household harvesting groundnuts 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

Promotion of agro-forestry – Lead-farmer explaining the concept of agro-forestry nursery to other farmers 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

How did this approach addressed & enhanced climate adaptation/resilience building Outputs 1.1 Small-Scale Farmers implement sustainable agriculture (SA) techniques Output Indicators BaselineYr 1Yr 2Yr 3 Number of small scale farmers that have consistently implemented SA techniques. 200 households (350 Males,119 Females) 480 (340 males 140 females) % of cultivated area, per HH, consistently under SA techniques. 40% of area50 %52 %55% Number of HH that diversify crop varieties and animal breeds 200 households (350 males, 150 females) Number of crop varieties rehabilitated by farmers Number of farmers trained and benefitted from community based agro biodiversity management practices/tools Number of farmers with increased livestock diversity nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

How did this approach address & enhance ecosystem productivity Outcome 1: Target households achieve food security throughout the year IndicatorBaseline value Actual value yr 1 Actual value yr 2Actual value yr 3 Number of households with energy food reserves in critical months (Dec- March) 224 households 224 (44.8%) 390 (78%) 307 male-headed 83 female-headed 410 (82%) 250 male-headed 160 female-headed Increased number of different food groups consumed in targeted households 2266 % increase in income from sale of crops and livestock produced on the farmers’ own farm ZMK 2,318,884 per HH from maize sales 20% 35% No. of clubs/ groups/ cooperatives that have sales/selling agreements with commercial entities e.g. shops, super markets, etc. No clubs with agreement 055 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

How did this approach enhance incomes and created jobs  Income security and established market access are factors that affect most agricultural projects.  Increased income was achieved through:  Selling of often neglected local traditional crops  Pass-on-the-gift concept  Formation of village saving groups  Creation of jobs was achieved especially for the leaders of the formed farmer groups  Seed production was another Project trained 44 farmers and 2 schools in the production of seed. BaselineYr 1Yr 2Yr 3 % increase in income from sale of crops and livestock produced on the farmers’ own farm ZMK 2,318,884 per HH from maize sales 20% 20%.35%

How did this approach addressed & enhanced Value chains and access to Markets  Through biodiversity fares, the project enhanced trading in planting materials among local communities and individuals  Formation of farmer groups helped to access bigger market  Deliberate efforts were made to link farmer groups to markets BaselineYr 1Yr 2Yr 3 No. of clubs/ groups/ cooperatives that have sales/selling agreements with commercial entities (shops, supermarkets, processing industries) No clubs with agreements 055 Number of active Camp Agriculture Committee’s Number of clubs/groups/cooperatives/CBOs registered No. of clubs/groups/cooperatives/CBOs which are strengthened (meet regularly and provide member services)

Bio-diversity seed fare – bringing farmers together to create awareness on the available locally adapted planting materials 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

How Can EBA create opportunities in the entire agricultural value chain?  Based on project findings, the following are ways in which EBA can create opportunities in entire value chain:  Increased SFFs productivity through implementation of sustainable organic agricultural practices.  Nutritional security through increased households’ food sources  Increased farmers’ access and knowledge of locally adapted agro biodiversity  Strengthening local institutions and organizations  Diversification of income generating activities e.g. Seed production, livestock integration, community savings, etc.  Linking of farmers to established markets  Capacity building in value addition techniques 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015

What are the suggested actions to influence policy to adopt EBA approaches for Food security and climate resilience  Generation of evidence - EBA players need to generate evidence showing potential of EBA approaches in enhancing food and security and climate resilience that can be used to influence policy makers. Based on this evidence, the government can then be asked to effect the following:  Change in agricultural education - As opposed to current educational curricula that are biased towards unsustainable synthetic chemical based production systems, there is need to have EBA approaches taught in schools (both lower and higher learning institutions)  Budgetary allocation - In Zambia, more than 50% of agricultural budget go to the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) which is unsustainable. There is need to redirect such funds to research and training in sustainable practices such as EBA.

What are the suggested actions to influence policy to adopt EBA approaches for Food security and climate resilience  Revisiting existing policy documents - There is mention of “sustainable food production” in policy documents, but most of these systems currently being promoted are in fact very unstainable and in most cases detrimental to the environment. There is need to revisit these policies and clearly define sustainable production systems based on local conditions.  Enacting new laws and enforcing existing ones that aim at the protection of the environment eg. The indiscriminate burning of bushes, cutting down of trees, etc.  Developing and/or improving value chains of other crops such as legumes to stimulate agro-biodiversity and enhance the nutritional quality of rural livelihoods  Lobby against policy moves that could be detrimental to rural livelihoods and ecological health eg. GMOs and seed trade harmonization, etc.

Sensitization of village headmen and headwomen on SOA principles and practices 2nd Africa EbA for food security conference 2015 | Nairobi - Kenya | 30 – 31 July 2015