Emerging Farmers Initiative (EFI)
The Emerging Farmer's Initiative (EFI) is a Project under the Religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit. It is located in a village in Magoye, Mazabuka. The Project imparts 'hands-on-experience in eco-friendly integrated farming, and skills in entrepreneurship, to young school-drop-outs and school going pupils.
The model works for all stakeholders in the value chain, from customers who are the well-off who have a preference for organically grown products, community members and super markets and vegetable traders. Its revenue streams come from the sale of its products both at wholesale and retail levels.
- Training local school drop outs in eco-friendly agriculture: one cohort of 15 youths every 6 months, using the enterprise premises as a demonstration and practicum site.
- Elimination of 1,250Kg of harmful chemicals from the soil per year
- Water Conservation: install drip irrigation systems to save at least 1000L of water per day. Additionally, water savings within farm practices.
- Use of solar energy for water pumps
- Creation of employment to the young people, both male and female; hence impacting 3 families of 6 each
- Increased income among the local people who have been hired for work during the construction times
- Improved nutrition of farm products
Partners
VITALITE Zambia supplies solar equipment to the site, where other farmers come to visit, while the EFI creates a link with the partner to the local community.
SIMDACH Poultry Farms supports EFI with supply of chicks, feeds, medication, consultation and distribution of our products.