LFSP Markets Development (MD) has developed an infographic to show how the cattle pen fattening models promoted under the Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP) to improve smallholders’ access to competitive livestock off-take markets and enhancing their income and resilience by increasing return from their livestock.
Download the infographic here. (PDF)
LSFP Markets Development (MD) has developed an infographic on Mechanised Shelling to show how the Livelihoods and Food Security Project (LFSP) is promoting access to, uptake and utilisation of, post-harvest handling/processing equipment. This infographic provides details of a model on the post-harvest mechanical processing of grains as an important component of improving output and profitability for smallholder farmers.
This infographic shows how the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP) is improving the food security, nutrition and productivity of smallholder farmers and rural communities in Zimbabwe by co-creating and testing a range of inclusive business models with farmers, agribusinesses and other market actors.
Download the infographic. (PDF)
“I have heard people say that farming is for poor people. I agree but add the statement that it is for poor people so that they get rich. I can safely say that I am rich as I can afford to feed myself and my wife throughout the year. I also get a balanced diet as I produce most of what I need. LFSP has taught us to eat healthy and we are doing just that.”
Desire Sibanda, 28, exudes confidence as he speaks to guests who had visited his home in Kwekwe district, about 300km from the capital, Harare. He proudly shows his recently completed house, a deep well with a submersible pump and reservoir tank, a flourishing garden and orchard, lush maize, sorghum and sweet potato crops and several chickens.
For the young farmer, the decision to join the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP) in 2015 has been a game changer.
“I have heard people say that farming is for poor people. I agree but add the statement that it is for poor people so that they get rich. I can safely say that I am rich as I can afford to feed myself and my wife throughout the year. I also get a balanced diet as I produce most of what I need. LFSP has taught us to eat healthy and we are doing just that.”
The energetic and eloquent farmer said farming had become his source of employment and had intentions to employ other people in future.
“I know there are people who say there are no jobs, I have also tried getting formal employment as I possess a class two driver’s license. I have realized that agriculture is the key to a better life. I will continue expanding my business and start my own shop where I will sell some of my farm produce. I will also create employment as I will need other people to assist me with the business,” said Desire.
The 2016/17 farming season was very successful for the farmer who grew maize and sweet potatoes. Desire managed to buy a submersible pump, a generator and a storage tank to ensure uninterrupted water supply for his crops. He used part of the money to drill a 30 metre deep borehole which is used to water the vegetables as well as provide clean and safe water for a number of households within his village.
Proper planning pays off
According to Desire farming is not about grappling in the dark but one has to undertake a serious analysis before venturing into a crop. This, the farmer said, was emphasised in the trainings that they attended under LFSP. The result is that they plan on the type of crop, the quantities and the timing so that they get maximum returns. They also do simple analyses to calculate the gross margins, to inform choice of crop for the next season. The young farmer keeps records of all farm activities, another lesson learnt from the training under LFSP.
Desire recently married and used proceeds from his farming business to finance the wedding. Chickens which were consumed on the wedding were all from his farm. The couple were recently blessed with a baby who Desire said will be provided for through proceeds from the farming business.
“I have improved greatly, (since becoming a member of LFSP), I got a plan for a fowl run structure from LFSP, and I have seen an improvement in my fowl enterprise – the chickens and guinea fowls that I keep are multiplying faster and growing much quicker. I was using an ordinary room, the open space and trees prior to the new structure and I am seeing that my birds are now very secure. I used about US$120 for the structure and it is a very wise decision and it is worth the investment,” added the farmer.
The chickens and some guinea fowls serve a dual purpose: meeting the family’s dietary needs and generating extra income. “We slaughter some of the birds for consumption as a family. A single bird is enough for one meal for the entire family. We alternate between the guinea fowls, chickens and rarely turkeys or goats. Beef is quite expensive and we cannot afford it. We eat meat once or twice weekly, making it very expensive to eat beef so regularly,” added Desire who lives with nine other family members.
Young farmers emulating Desire
Other young farmers from within his village have emulated Desire with equally impressive results. One such farmer is Abigail Nyoni, who is also a mother. Abigail said she was able to take care of her children because of the information she got from the study circle.
“I decided to join the study circle after I realised that I would benefit from the information shared through the group. I have used this information to make decisions on what to plant and how to market. This guided me last year when I grew tomatoes. The proceeds from the sale of tomatoes has seen me sending children to school and buy other things they need,” said Abigail.
She added that her wish was to grow the business and also buy livestock as a cushion should anything bad happen to her tomato farming.
Desire and the fellow young farmers use the study circle approach to discuss their farming businesses. The study circle approach is another approach that was introduced by a consortium of partners under the banner EXTRA and comprising WHH, CTDO, We Effect, ICRISAT and Heifer International under LFSP.
The story of Desire Sibanda is a very good example of how young people can be productively engaged in agriculture, generate income for themselves and contribute to the national economy. This is particularly important for Zimbabwe with a high rate of youth unemployment.
The Livelihoods and Food Security Programme funded by UKAid’s DFID, and managed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as well as Palladium, is a suitable vehicle for youth engagement in agriculture since it addresses farmer training and extension, access to diverse and nutritious foods, access to rural finance as well as markets for inputs and outputs. The innovative and labour saving technologies promoted by LFSP makes agriculture attractive to the youths, who can choose lucrative value chains to pursue. The programme is contributing to employment generation and economic empowerment for rural youths.
Last mile distribution
The £47,635,000 Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP), which is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), seeks to improve smallholder livelihoods and strengthen agribusinesses so that they can better implement inclusive business models. With many Zimbabweans involved in smallholder agriculture, they have the potential to help transform the country’s economic prospects.
LFSP therefore aspires to nurture value chains that offer climate resilience, pro-poor returns and which have sound market demand. It does so by co-creating and trailing inclusive business models with smallholders, agribusinesses and other market actors that offer promise of social and economic returns.
For further details, access the full article here (PDF).
Diversified diets and business strategies The UK’s Department for International Development’s (DFID) Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP) in Zimbabwe is working with partners along agricultural value chains to improve livelihoods and food security while boosting agribusiness. The £47,635,000 initiative works with farmers, businesses and other market actors to ensure that households and communities are better able to exploit viable opportunities.
Though farming continues to be subject to fluctuations and shocks, by improving information flows and through labour saving measures, productivity can increase to reduce food insecurity and build community resilience. In addition, training opportunities and group farming expose smallholders to a greater variety of produce and commercial links.
For further details, access the full article here (PDF).
The LFSP Markets Development component is co-creating and scaling up viable business models that address the problems faced by both agribusinesses and smallholder farmers, while creating benefits for all parties.
The programme is enhancing timely access to affordable and quality inputs by bringing sales outlets closer to smallholder farmers.
LFSP has developed an infographic providing details on the implementation of the Last Mile Input Supply Model.
Download the infographic Here. (PDF)
