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Hello ,
Fortunately, lots of people read our newsletter, and that sometimes leads to great partnerships. Our partnership with Family in Christ Mission Holland (FCMH) is an example.
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FCMH has been working in Mazabuka, Zambia (Mbaya Musuma) since 1993 and, amongst other things, launched a food programme in 2024 when severe food shortages were caused by the drought. Food was distributed to the people at that time, but FCMH realised that this was not a very sustainable solution; should another drought ever strike, it would be better for people to be able to grow their own food and thus provide for their families and the community.
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FCMH began looking for alternative approaches and, after reading Jacana’s newsletters, came across Jacana. They became interested in Jacana’s sustainable approach to supporting small-scale entrepreneurs, in this case smallholder farmers. They got in touch with Jacana and, after a few phone calls, Rik Haanen and Bester Sakala travelled to Mazabuka. They held discussions with the board, management and the community, all with a view to finding out whether the ‘Jacana’ approach could also work in Mazabuka.
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This eventually led to a proposal, which is now being implemented now.
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- Warren Lupiya, a manager from Mazabuka, spent two months in Chipata learning from Collins Musonda and Bester Sakala, both experienced managers at Jacana.
- Collins taught Warren how to set up a project, to chair a community meeting, to conduct interviews and to facilitate the entrepreneurship training.
- Bester taught Warren how to deliver training on organic farming and guide the trained farmers.
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Warren learning during business training Learning from agro training
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- After Warren had spent two months in Chipata, Collins travelled to Mazabuka to assist him there. That phase has now been completed: 20 farmers have been trained in business skills,
- borehole site surveys have been carried out for 20 farmers
- and the first boreholes have been drilled.
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Warren trained the first farmers in Mazabuka
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- The next step will be for Bester to travel to Mazabuka to assist Warren in training the farmers in organic farming skills.
- In addition to all this, local entrepreneurs in the area will be trained in the installation and repair of (solar) pumps and others in monitoring the installed pumps
It is a valuable learning experience for Jacana to implement the approach – which has been refined over more than 10 years – some 700 km away. Of course, not everything can be copied exactly as it is. We will learn a great deal from one another, and the necessary adjustments will be made.
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Should any other organisations be interested in the Jacana approach, please get in touch by replying to this newsletter.
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