For the first week or so, my work mainly consisted of office tasks; Updating the farmers database (which had been backlogged for about 2 months!), reviewing recent reports, etc. The office is not exactly an exciting place, though we do occassionally see a marching band pass by the window. One of the first things that struck me was the lack of a calendar in the office. I was really wanting to know what work we would have coming up so that I could get an idea of the weekly routines. I was also keen on finding out when I would be heading to the field, meeting the participants in the IDE programs. Since there was no established office calendar, I took it upon myself to create one, more for my own benefit, but it has been quite useful with my co-workers, Bernard and Buumba [say it kind of like moomba], using it on a regular basis.
The Cosy IDE Office.
Based on this newly created calendar of activities and meetings, I was delighted to see that on June 5th we would be having a meeting with farmers in nearby Mukobeko. Mukobeko, while geographically being close to our office in Kabwe, took quite some time to get to, showing one of the major challenges small-scale farmers face; That is, getting their outputs to the markets! The road, if you wish to call it a road (most of the locals do, though I would call it a trail), was narrow winding and filled with large washouts from heavy rains in January and February. It was a rough ride, but after some 30 minutes we had managed to navigate the 10km of ‘road’. Also of note: To get to the village we had to pass THROUGH the grounds of one of Zambia’s maximum security prisons. While most of the prisoners were behind giant walls and razor wire, some were in the fields working - I couldn’t actually see them working, just their hoe’s raising up above the surrounding tall grasses, and fully armed guards standing watch on large mounds.
A good section of the “road” to Mukobeko
After a quick prayer and introductions - I introduced myself in Bemba, which resulted in howling laughter from the 12 farmers who had gathered - Bernard quickly dove into business. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a ‘Zone Committee’. Because the project is supposed to involve up to 14,000 farmers, a communication structure needs to be in place for information to flow to and from IDE, between the farmers, between the farmers groups and all of the input suppliers and output markets that IDE facilitates links to. To put it in local context with IDE in Kabwe, currently we have 1337 registered farmers in 30 groups across a radius of 50km . Maintaining good communication with all of these farmers poses a challenge when you are operating with a full-time staff of only 2! Even if the field staff were to visit with each group once a month, they would have no time to develop the relationships with the input suppliers, output markets, deliver training, or handle reporting (a possible connection to the 2 month backlog in the farmers database?)
Cabbage field in Kato - Not a group I am talking about, but I wanted to show it. This field is irrigated by buckets from a nearby well. Not only this field, but 4 others just like it. Very tiring work. Also, as I was walking around I felt as though at any moment a lion could jump out of the grasses.
The idea of the zone is to mobilize several farmers groups under a ‘Zone’ with a committee made up of representatives from each of the groups. This committee could then bring information up from the individual farmers, through sections to the groups, and then to IDE, suppliers, output markets, etc. Likewise, information on credit links, potential markets for crops, bulk input supplies can travel down the chain, through the zone committee, to the farmer groups who can then spread the information amongst the different sections of their members.
Based on what Florin, Helen and myself had been told at the IDE office in Lusaka, it seemed as through this system of communication was up and running, or if not, was well on the way to being put in place. In reality, this has not been the case, as even though some groups are organized, they all have pre-existing heirarchies and systems of spreading information. There seems to be a desire to get the Zones organized, while at the same time there is still chaos within the group systems. Getting this system up and running has proven to be a challenge. Even in Kabwe, where farmers groups have been for the most part well organized, getting representatives of the groups together in one place at the same time is difficult.
Farmers at the Mukobeko ‘Zone Meeting’
Currently, on paper anyway, the 30 groups are divided amongst 8 ‘Zones’. This system of communication needs to work if the participants are to see any significant income improvement (the basis for the projects’ success). We have had some small successes along the way, showing encouraging signs that the system can work. For example, just today Freshpick (producer of canned beans) picked up over 740kg of sugar beans from our office. Information about the price and pickup time was sent from our office to a ‘Zone Committee’ in Chikonkomene (about 45km from our office). From there, the farmer groups in the zone were informed. Individual farmers sorted and graded their beans, and they arrived at our office in time for pickup. Small successes like this show that the system can in fact work, but with a lot of help along the way. But are the efforts of IDE in implementing this system actually having a significant positive impact on the livelihoods of small-scale farmers? - That I cannot answer.
I hope to update you next with my current living conditions in Shakumbila village, complete with a picture of my sweet wheels.
Also, I have started an online photo gallery where you can see these pictures (i'm SLOWLY adding them), and some others that have been taken along the way. Follow the link here, or on the right hand menu.
Thanks for all your emails, and I will try to respond to each and every one when I can. If you wish to join my mailing list, just drop me a line and I will gladly add you on.
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