Zambia - Rural Community Development Project

Project Overview:

Heifer International’s Kabwe Umbrella Rural Development Project in Zambia was established in 2007 to improve the household income and nutrition of 492 vulnerable households through sustainable agricultural training and placement of income- and food-producing livestock. So far, Heifer has assisted 305 families in Zambia through direct placement and Passing on the Gift (POG) of draft cattle, meat cattle and dairy cattle.

Livestock placement has been completed, and other families will continue to receive animal gifts through Heifer’s Passing on the Gift model. The group leaders and project management committee will play a critical role in monitoring the pass on gifts and reporting progress. Local extension workers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development and Ministry of Community Development will work closely with the farmers to ensure the project’s sustainability.

Heifer has also created a new project in this area of Zambia that will keep it active in the area. The Sustainable Livelihood and Women Empowerment Project will deepen the impact of Heifer’s work in the area and continue to improve lives.

Key updates:

• 105 families have so far benefitted from the first generation of Passing on the Gift.
• Food and Income security—up to 305 families (200 original and 105 POG) own food- and income-producing animals. Increased crop production and vegetables have been a result of the farmers’ ability to acquire farming inputs, increased cultivation area, timely planting, use of manure and good extension services. Surplus farm produce for sale has facilitated the establishment of livestock sale points by Profit Zambia and grain depots by Food Reserve Agency.
• Redressing Gender Imbalances—The project reached members of society who are disproportionately disadvantaged; 180 out of 305 members who received livestock and training were women.  Participation of men and women in project activities at both group and household levels was good. This is a result of the gender awareness training and the Heifer values-based development approach by both partners and Heifer staff.
• Environmental protection and management—Training in environmental management, availability of manure and animal draft power has motivated farmers to put into practice agroecological practices such as multi-purpose tree-planting, use of manure, early planting, composting and minimum tillage (pot-holing and the use of an animal drawn ripper). The project groups have worked with the Conservation Farming Unit, which was instrumental in promoting conservation farming particularly minimum tillage and use of organic manure. Hygrotech supported the establishment of fodder trees and the pasture called Kow Kandy.