TURNING CROPS INTO OPPORTUNITY: THE CHIMBABUNGA COOPERATIVE STORY

By Ruth Chileshe

WHEN it comes to farming in Zambia, it takes more than just working the land to succeed. One must be strategic, innovative, and committed to seeing beyond the traditional scope of agriculture. For many young people, farming may not seem like the most attractive venture.

However, groups like the Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative are working to change that perception by showing how farming, coupled with value addition and community engagement, cannot only generate income but also uplift entire communities.

One such inspiring story is that of Mr. Dibson Chungu Sichilima, the Chairperson of the Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative, a group of enterprising farmers based in Ndola. Mr. Sichilima's journey is a remarkable example of how farming, when approached with vision and determination, can become a reliable source of income and a means of empowerment.

The cooperative he leads is engaged not only in farming but also in food processing—turning raw crops into finished products that are nutritious, marketable, and impactful. Mr. Sichilima recounts that the idea behind the cooperative initially started as something completely different: a group of 12 people came together to start a block-making business. Unfortunately, the venture struggled due to a lack of adequate funding and manpower.

Faced with these challenges, the group made a collective decision to pivot to farming, which they believed would be easier to manage while also offering the potential to contribute positively to their community.

“We first started the business inblock-making with 12 people,” he explained, “but the business did not thrive because we did not have enough funds and manpower to make progress. That’s how we decided to change to the business of farming because it was easier to do andalso presented an opportunity to be of great help and value to people in our community. It gave those who didn’t have anything to do a source of income and also food to eat.”

From what began as a simpleattempt to find a more manageable business model, the Chimbabunga Cooperative has since grown tremendously. Today, it boasts a membership of 72individuals—an incredible leap that underscores the cooperative’s success and appeal. Officially registered in 2021, the cooperative has since become a beacon of agricultural innovation and collaboration in the region.

Mr. Sichilima and his team grow a wide range of crops, including maize, groundnuts, cassava, soybeans, avocado, and several others. But what truly sets the cooperative apart is their dedication to processing these crops into various food products.

He explains that from the produce they grow, they manufacture items such as cooking oil, peanut butter, cassava drink, soya milk, soya coffee, soya ginger, mealie meal, cassava meal, and even avocado yoghurt. These products are not only helping to diversify the cooperative’s income but are also improving nutrition and food security in the community.

According to Mr. Sichilima, food processing has proven to be a highly lucrative arm of their operations. The group has been focused on growing this part of the business by submitting their products to the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) for testing and certification.

With the products approved, it opens the door for the cooperative to begin supplying retail shops and supermarkets, expanding their market reach beyond individual customers. Mr. Sichilima adds that this development represents a major step forward and brings them closer to their goal of becoming a recognized player in Zambia’s food processing industry.

In addition to their growing business success, the Chimbabunga Cooperative has made its presence felt in the agricultural sector. Mr. Sichilima reveals that in 2022, they participated in the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show and ranked 7th among the exhibitors. Over the years, they have continued to receive commendable accolades at both district and provincial levels.

Still, despite the many successes, challenges persist. Mr. Sichilima points out that one of the biggest obstacles they face is the lack of machinery. Most of their food processing is done using domestic equipment, and in some cases, they have to rent machines—especially for specialized products like avocado yoghurt.

This limitation affects the scale at which they can operate and makes it difficult to meet growing demand. He hopes that with support from government institutions or private sector partners, they can acquire affordable and efficient machines to boost their productivity and growth.

The financial side of things is another major concern. Mr. Christopher Simbeye, the Cooperative’s Treasurer, explained that the group has largely depended on personal contributions to fund their operations since its inception. As they look to scale up, they are in need of financial support to expand their activities and bring more unemployed youth from the community on board.

“When we started the cooperative, we were using our personal funds to operate. And now we want to grow and make a major impact so that our cooperative can grow bigger and recruit many more people who are languishing in our community,” said Mr. Simbeye. He emphasized that this would be a major breakthrough, not just for the cooperative but for the community as a whole, by providing opportunities for others to thrive.

Both Mr. Sichilima and Mr. Simbeye are passionate about the future of their cooperative and are determined to continue building on their progress. They are equally committed to inspiring other young people to explore farming as a viable, rewarding path. Their advice to aspiring farmers is simple: give it a try.

“Farming is not just a tradition; it’s a business—and a very good one if done right,” they said. “Try it out and see how good and profitable it is.”

The story of the Chimbabunga Multi-purpose Cooperative is a shining example of what can happen when determination meets innovation. In turning challenges into opportunities and crops into life-changing products, they are not only feeding a community but building a future—one harvest at a time.

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