Monica Musongole of Chibombo District runs Namantemba
Farms, an enterprise that is into seedling, horticulture, poultry
and livestock production.
Monica is an active participant on the USAID Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced Activity since 2021. Her engagement in multiple training and skills building events coupled with access to market activities has enabled her farm to become more productive and profitable.
‘With the knowledge obtained from USAID ...training, we
have reviewed our vision and plans, and are seriously taking farming as a business.”
Photo Credit: Nevil Jackson, USAID Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced Activity Consultant.
Our Work
Feed the Future recognizes the undeniable link between food security and external shocks like inflation, trade disruptions and extreme weather events and in Zambia are focusing on investments in drought-tolerant seeds, improved water management practices and advanced weather forecasting. Incorporating such global best practices will expand market-led solutions to strengthen food systems and drive private agricultural sector growth, putting financial, digital and productive tools into the hands of Zambian entrepreneurs. These measures aim to mitigate future risks and reduce the need for emergency assistance in the future fostering long-term progress USAID’s approach to reducing rural poverty in Zambia is based on three pillars: enhancing the business enabling environment, strengthening rural enterprises, and sustainably managing Zambia’s natural resource base. These programs also contribute to improving water, sanitation, and hygiene services and improving nutritional outcomes.
Zambia’s crippling drought has caused crop losses between 60 and 95 percent across vast swathes of the country, triggering an 83 percent surge in maize prices. Despite immense challenges, smallholder farmers continue to demonstrate incredible resilience, particularly when following climate smart agriculture practices, are able to to produce food for their families and communities.
The Feed the Future Accelerator will help farmers provide food for over 460,000 people in Zambia affected by the drought. Investments will help reach farmers with drought-tolerant seeds, improved water management practices, and advanced weather forecasting that will help them strengthen their resilience.
Challenges
- Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are the main causes of infections such as cholera and diarrhea, and inadequate WASH continues to be the leading cause of death of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. Girls and women are particularly affected by poor WASH conditions.
- Reliable electricity — Currently, 85 percent of electricity in Zambia comes from hydropower, which is particularly affected by climate change-induced droughts and flooding, causing power blackouts in all parts of the country.
- Hunger and malnutrition — Poor nutritional outcomes continue to reduce the economic potential of its people. Undernutrition is still the underlying cause of 45 percent of child deaths and 20 percent of maternal deaths.
- Environmental management — Poaching, illegal logging and charcoal production, over-harvesting, and habitat degradation puts rural livelihoods at risk.
Impact
- Private sector partners have provided $10 million in private financing to match the USAID investment in Luangwa.
- $28 million in trade deals, 18 in agribusiness and two in the critical minerals sectors.
- Established five seasonal open markets that provided nearly 5,600 smallholder farmers increased access to markets, higher incomes, and access to time-saving equipment.
- Farmers traded over 4,500 metric tonnes of maize, groundnuts, soybeans, and sunflower, with sales over $1.6 million.