Alan Kerins Projects has been funding Food Security programs in the Mongu region since October 2005. The intervention has had 3 phases to date.
Phase 1: 2004 – 2005 Emergency Food Aid to 700 families.
Phase 2: 2005 – 2006 Provision of Borehole and Shallow Wells
Phase 3: 2006 – 2009 Support for the Malengwa/Kalangu Farmers Association (MKFA)
Note: Phase 4: Crop Diversification and Storage Facilities is planned for 2011.
See more pictures
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- Farmer with yolk of ox
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- Water Tower
Further Details
Phase 1: Emergency Food Aid for 700 Families: Limulunga, Mongu Region
Zambia and the entire southern sub-region experienced drought during the 2004/05 agricultural season. Two thirds of Zambia was badly affected by erratic rainfall. By mid February and March 2005, most of these areas received little and/or no rainfall at a time when most crops were at critical stage of development. This rainfall situation caused irreversible agronomic damage to most crops. Drought tolerant crops such as cotton and tobacco were also affected by the erratic nature of the rainfall.
In October 2004, the Presentation Sisters began an outreach program of emergency food aid in the area surrounding Limulunga. Limulunga is situated about 15 km north of the town of Mongu and 21km east of the main channel of the Zambezi river. For a period of 18 months, 700 families were supported with the food aid. Approximately 5,000 people benefited from this intervention.
Phase 2: Installation of 3 Boreholes and 12 Shallow Wells, Mongu Region
This involved the installation of 3 deep boreholes and 12 shallow wells in the Malengwa area. The aim is to provide a more sustainable solution to the problem of drought and food shortage by providing a more secure supply of water to the communities. The facilities are community-run and sustainable and include a provision for maintenance and upkeep by leveraging a small fee to users.
Phase 3: Support for the Malengwa/Kalangu Farmers Association (MKFA)
Towards the end of the emergency food aid program in 2006, the heads of 25 of the local villages formed and registered the Malengwa/Kalangu Farmers Association (MKFA). We provided the MKFA with funding for tools, oxen, seeds and fertilizer and training in a series of workshops on conservation farming techniques. In return, the community agreed that the able-bodied in each village would do the day to day work and support the sick, old and disabled in the community. Affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, the MKFA has access to discounted seeds and fertilizer. The group currently has a membership of 120, approximately 45% of whom are women.
Project Overview
| Location | Mongu, Zambia |
|---|---|
| Currently | Complete |
Project benefits
- Emergency Food aid for 700 families over an 18 month period.
- Shallow and deep wells reduce the reliance of the communities on the rains.
- Training, seeds and equipment enable the MKFA group to grow a more diverse range of crops.
- Conservation farming techniques contribute to the environment.
- Registration by the MKFA with the local government authority gives access to cheaper fertiliser, seeds and capacity building.
- The benefits of the initiative are shared with the vulnerable within the communities.
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