Project details

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Plan will work with implementing partners to provide tailored support ‘packages’ that best meet the needs and capacities of participating farming households.  Support packages may include some or all of the following:

• training in improved farming methods
• horticultural inputs such as field crop and garden seeds
• irrigation equipment, small livestock such as goats
• training in goat-rearing techniques and animal health.

This Footprints funded project is a part of Plan Australia’s comprehensive Improving Food Security Among Poorest Families in Zambia (see full details below)

Project Aims/Outputs

• In 2010, Plan in Australia will support Plan Zambia, local partners and communities in Chadiza District to identify and assist approximately 180 households which are among the most food insecure to:
• Develop a range of locally available livelihood support 'packages' that are suited to each household’s composition and capacities;
• Promote off-season vegetable gardening, improved farming methods, cereal crop production, increased crop diversification, poultry and small livestock rearing;
• Work with local government and community groups to provide tailored community-based trainings, inputs (including seed) and ongoing mentoring to help sustain adequate household food supplies throughout the year;
• Work with community service groups trained through a previous Australian-assisted program to raise awareness of women’s and children’s rights, promote the importance of women’s involvement in household decision-making processes as well as men’s increased involvement in shared labour, and;
• Document project activities and household outcomes in order to inform other food security interventions.

Why is the project needed?

Plan Zambia’s experience in Chadiza district in Eastern province confirms that many rural households continue to experience food shortage. The ‘lean’ or ‘hungry season’ as it’s called lasts from November to February and often forces affected households to eat less food and less variety. In extreme cases, food insecure households sometimes have to beg, sell or exchange assets to access food.

Why improving food security is a priority?

• Inadequate access to nutritious food undermines the health of all household members and can negatively affect child development.
• Promoting diversified and improved household food production helps to strengthen household and community resilience to withstand the effects of erratic rainfall, family illness, the loss of family members and sudden increases in the cost of living.
• Sufficient access to food, including surpluses, can safeguard and even increase household asset bases, and can lead to improved quality of life.
• Sale of surplus crops can be used to further improve farming, pay school fees and support improved household diets.

How Plan is  helping to change things

Previous projects in Chadiza District have included the provision of farming inputs, seed and agricultural training to communities.  A food access and farming practice survey in October 2008 found that although improvements had occurred in two wards there was still need for further work. The survey identified that 53 percent of households overall, and 56 percent of ‘vulnerable’ households (those with chronically ill, elderly, disabled and/or orphans), had not experienced an increase in the variety and quantity of food produced in the last 3 years. This project will help to further refine which families Plan in Zambia needs to specifically work with to address food insecurity.

Project Partners

Plan is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, co-operatives, community-based groups such as agricultural extension volunteers, Heifer International, local leaders and communities.