Project News

On 8th June 2021, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Madam Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma visited Chitsanzo group in Nkhotakota district, Salima Agricultural Development Division. The Chitsanzo group is one of the 1st batch target farmer groups of MA-SHEP since 2018.

On this occasion, the chairperson and other members of the Chitsanzo group presented what they have done as MA-SHEP activities and their outputs. Then, the Deputy Minister visited their seed propagation field of beans under a contract made with a certain organization. When the chairperson participated in the MA-SHEP recap meeting/stakeholders workshop at national level, he met the organization to whom they had started supplying bean seeds and soya seeds on a contract basis. This contract of seed propagation has improved resilience of the group members particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic situation when demand of horticultural crops declined. After the market survey conducted by the group, the group members had started supplying tomato and mustard leaves to two boarding schools in the neighboring area. Unfortunately, the government has closed all schools including the two schools in 2020 and the group members lost one of their market at that time. Even in such a situation, the farmers could minimize negative impact by the COVID-19, since bean seed market was not severely hit by the COVID-19.

Before the MA-SHEP activities, the farmers used to blame extension staff because they could not find markets for their crops. However, the farmers have changed their mind through the MA-SHEP activities and currently they are proactively seeking market opportunities by themselves. Another member proudly stated that now she knew well what to produce, when, how much volume, where to sell, what to use the profits, according to the action plan which is jointly made by all the family members.

It was an excellent opportunity for MA-SHEP to show a success story of the target farmer group in the project to the Deputy Minister and also to encourage the Chitsanzo group.

Observing the bean seeds propagation field

Chitsanzo
A new house with solar panels built by a member of Chitsanzo