CHIANSHI IRRIGATION PROJECT TRANSFORMING LIVES

By MARGARET CHIRWA

MWAKA Siakasila, is a student at Chikupi Vocational Training Centre in Kafue district. Mwaka is being trained in General Agriculture at the institution. She knew about Chikupi Vocation Training Centre through her grandfather wholives near the institution.

Mwaka, is one of the students who was sponsored by the Chianshi Out Grower Support Project. Her grandfather advised her to enrol in the School of Agriculture. In an interview, Mwaka indicated, she normally practices skills learnt at Chikupi vocational training centre whenever she goes home.

“I’ve my own portion of land where I grow egg plants and onions,” Mwaka says.

Mwaka narrates venturing into a profitable agriculture enterprise is good for the youths, as it enables them to avoid bad vices. Her long-term plans are to have her own farm.

Another student, Robert Namoya, who is also at Chikupi Vocational Training Centre and a beneficiary of the Chianshi Out Grower Support Project, said he was happy to be among the sponsored youths.

“I learned about the sponsorship programme from mysiblings,” Namoya said.

Chikupi Vocational Training Centre Acting Director,Miyanda Chibinga, explained the training centre is managed by the Catholics and was established to help the vulnerable.

“The institution offers courses that are Trade tests(skill oriented) which include power electrical, metal fabrication, general agriculture, tailoring and brick laying, ” Mr Chibinga said.

He said Chianshi Out Grower Support Project has sponsored 40 students at their institution enrolled in different programmes.

“Chianshi had paid K654,300 for students under Chikupi Vocational Training Centre. The coming of Chianshi to sponsor the students is very commendable as most of its clientele are vulnerable,” he indicated.

Mr Chibinga said 75% of the training offered at the institution is practical, while 25% is theory.

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The Chianshi Out Grower Support Project is supporting40 students at Chikupi Vocational Training Centre, while 29 students are trained under Shimabala training centre.

Chianshi Out Grower Support Project Coordinator, Shadreck Phiri, said the project is co-funded between Government of Zambia andAfrican Development Bank.

“The project is worth US $10 million and will address infrastructure that is climate resilient. It is currently working on the road that is climate resilient connecting Chikupi, Magoba and the surrounding areas, the total length of the road is 12.2 km, ” Mr Phiri said.

Kafue District Agricultural Coordinator, Raphael Muyaule, said Chianshi out grower support project is expected to build climate resilient infrastructure to support 600 smallholder farmers, with each farmer having a minimum of a hectare each. Farmers are expected to grow the same crop they will agree on for easy marketing.

Dr Muyaule said the coming of the Chianshi projectentails a lot of training for the farmers in the face of climate change.

“Kafue district receives less rainfall, andunpredictable weather conditions, with the coming of the project, it is envisaged that the farmer will increase production,” Dr Muyaule said.

He said the multisectoral project has purchased ninemotor bikes for camp extension workers under Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, and Ministry of Health.

Dr Muyaule said once the project is fully fledged, the farmers are expected to produce throughout the year.

The overall objective of the Chianshi Out Grower Support Project is to improve people’s livelihoods, supporting small scale farmers to increase their crop yields, providing vocational training for the youths, promoting entrepreneurship, linking the farmers to the market, access to basic needs, ultimately, it’s about enhancing the quality of life for the community. –NAIS

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