Green Stories with Jonas Miselo

The Lift Zambia programme has officially been launched in Luapula Province, with stakeholders highlighting its potential to transform lives through interventions that tackle poverty, inequality, and the impacts of climate change. Speaking during the official launch, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)   Country Director Mr. Libinga Musonda speaking on behalf of the consortium of partners said the programme represents the beginning of a new journey for Luapula , one of solidarity, resilience, and transformation. Mr. Musonda explained that Lift Zambia , Lives Saved, Inequality Addressed, and Fostering Resilience for Transformation in Zambia , is a five-year programme running from 2025 to 2029 and is led by the NCA/DCA Joint Country Programme and implemented by a consortium of partners including S CA, Pellum , C E J, and ADRA Zambia. He said the partners bring together a wealth of skills and expertise that, when combined, will deliver the change that communities in Lu...

Chifunabuli District has recorded a remarkable increase in the number of rice farmers, following targeted interventions by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Market-Oriented Rice Development Project (MOREDEP). According to Chifunabuli Town Council Chairperson Charles Mulenga, the district previously had only 300 rice farmers. Today, that number has grown to over 1,300 , an achievement he attributes to the project’s efforts in promoting sustainable and profitable rice farming. “We are so thankful to government as well as MoReDeP that have come on board to support our rice farmers. Allow me to mention that at the time the project started, we only had 300 farmers, but now we have more than 1,350 farmers, meaning that the project has enhanced the skills of our farmers and they have accepted and welcomed these interventions because they are improving their livelihoods,” Mr. Mulenga said. “Because of the MoRe...

  Climate-smart agriculture, an innovative approach that helps guide actions to transform agri-food systems towards green and climate-resilient practices, is transforming the way we grow our food. From precision farming methods to the use of organic farming practices, the founder of Love for Humanity Foundation Felix Mbewe is reshaping the agricultural landscape in Zambia.   Felix's journey into farming stems from his upbringing and education. Born in the digital native’s error, he experienced a unique blend of city life and hands-on farming practices which played a great role in the development of his passion for farming. As he navigated through his adolescent years, it was at Jacaranda and Kabulonga Boys secondary schools where he first encountered formal agricultural education. Despite a strong inclination towards the arts, Felix’s exposure to farming during his childhood at the family farm profoundly influenced his path. He went on to study for a Bachelor's Degree in D...

  A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is in Luapula Province to review progress on the Centre of Excellence for Rice Seed Production, now under construction in Mansa. The mission is being led by Acting Permanent Secretary for Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lemmy Kafwamfwa, accompanied by senior technical staff from ZARI and representatives from JICA. On Monday, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Chinama Kangwa, represented by Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Evans Sikabbubba. Welcoming the team, Mr. Sikabbubba expressed appreciation for JICA’s continued partnership with the Government of Zambia. “On behalf of the Government and the people of Luapula Province, I wish to thank JICA for this generous grant. The infrastructure under construction will not only strengthen government capacit...

With climate change and drought affecting most parts of Zambia, irrigation farming has become a source of hope for farmers in Kawambwa district.  Recognizing this need, the World Bank-funded Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project has invested 11.7 million Kwacha to build permanent irrigation canals, aiming to provide a lifeline for communities hit hardest by unpredictable weather patterns. Farmers like Osborne Mubanga from Chansa Malamba, one of the irrigation sites, have already begun reaping the benefits of these canals, growing winter maize and vegetables with consistent water access. “As soon as we saw the construction of the canal, we decided to plant maize before the rainy season started, knowing the canal would provide water for our crops,” Mubanga shared. He added that the canals have eased his workload significantly: “We no longer need to use buckets. Now, we just open furrows along the canal, making our work much easier.” Access to a ...

Nsumbu National Park, sitting on the north-eastern edge of Zambia, is where land and water weave together into one of Africa’s most unique conservation stories. Stretching over 100 square kilometers of protected lake waters along Lake Tanganyika, the park is home to one of the richest freshwater ecosystems on Earth. For Zanne Labuschagne, Project Manager at the Nsumbu Tanganyika Conservation Programme (NTCP), this combination of land, lake, and life makes Nsumbu unlike anywhere else. “Nsumbu National Park is a very special place,” she says. “Lake Tanganyika has incredible biodiversityalmost all the cichlid fish here are found nowhere else. Beyond that, the park holds rivers, wetlands, and even the largest remaining patches of Itigi-Sumbu thickets, a rare ecosystem that has already lost over 60% of its global coverage in the last 50 years.” It is this variety forests, rivers, wetlands, thickets, and lake that makes Nsumbu a true biodiversity haven. Conservation with Communities at the ...

CARE Zambia with support from the Czech Development Agency implemented the Building Livelihood Resilience to Climate Change (BLRCC) Project in Kalomo district of Southern Province. The project was aimed at addressing climate challenges and increasing smallholder farmer’s resilience to climate shocks. BLRCC started in 2020 and ended in 2023 empowered communities to adapt to climate change while improving food security and household incomes. At the heart of this transformation was the Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) model, which integrated climate-smart agriculture with business. The model enabled over 3,750 vulnerable households to improve their livelihoods, diversify income sources, and adopt sustainable farming practices. One of the key successes of the project has been the promotion of drought-resistant crops and improved farming techniques. Regina Mutetwa, a lead farmer from Kalomo’s Simakakata Agricultural Camp, is a testament to this change. After experiencing fail...

Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo has called on agro-dealers to uphold professionalism and integrity as government rolls out the 2025/2026 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) under a fully implemented e-voucher system. Speaking during a meeting with input suppliers in Lusaka on Friday, Mr. Mtolo said the programme, which will benefit 1,024,434 farmers nationwide, requires strong commitment from the private sector to ensure its success. He explained that with the move to a 100 percent e-voucher, the private sector now has greater responsibility to make inputs available in all 10 provinces and 116 districts of the country. “The transition to a fully private-sector-driven system presents vast opportunities for growth, but it also demands strict discipline. Government will not hesitate to revert to bulk purchases of fertilizer and seed if malpractice persists,” he warned. The minister stressed the need for fair and competitive pricing, urging dealers to avoid inflating costs, and emphasi...

Government has assured farmers in Luapula Province that every bag of maize harvested this season will be bought by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), despite reports of delays at some satellite depots. The assurance was made by Luapula Province Minister, Eng. Nason Musonda, during a visit to the FRA satellite depot in Kalaba area of Mansa District on Thursday. Eng. Musonda acknowledged that the overwhelming maize harvest, a result of the New Dawn Government’s supportive agricultural policies, has temporarily strained storage and logistical capacity. He disclosed that the country has already surpassed 3.6 million metric tonnes of maize production this season, with FRA having purchased over 1.2 million metric tonnes nationally. “The sight of so much maize is a good story for Luapula and for Zambia. It is a testament to the hard work of our farmers and the supportive environment created by President Hakainde Hichilema,” said Eng. Musonda. “I am aware that some of our farmers have been waiting...