Henwood foundation empowers Chisamba farmers

Henwood foundation empowers Chisamba farmers

Lusaka, May 22, ZANIS-A New Apostolic Church Humanitarian organization known as Henwood Foundation has embarked on empowerment farmers in Chisamba’s  Mwomboshi area in a bid to make them self reliant and improve their crop production.

Speaking during the handover of 10 water pumps to farmers in Mwomboshi, Henwood Executive Director Tebuho Yubai said the foundation was committed to improving the livelihood of communities through empowerment programmes in the agricultural and entrepreneurship sectors.

Mr. Yubai disclosed that Henwood has invested over KR 82,800 in the farming community through the provision of seed inputs, farmers training in sustainable agriculture and completion of a market depot.

The foundation has provided among other things pumps for irrigation.

He explained that the beneficiaries will have to recoup the cost of the pumps, which will then be used to procure more pumps to benefit other farmers in the community.

Mr. Yubai noted that Henwood empowerment programmes have proved to be effective in areas where they have been conducted.

The programmes have since been carried out in Choma and Mongu where farmers will eventually become self reliant when they experience higher crop yields.

He revealed that Henwood also has an empowerment programme in Lusaka where it teaches farmers skills about sausage production.

And speaking at the same function, District Apostle Stanley Munsaka commended the farmers for the initiative of building a market depot.

Apostle Munsaka said the depot will enable the farmers bring their produce together and negotiate for better prices as a group.

He said this will go a long way in shaping the future of the farmers as they had been losing a lot of money due to the inability to negotiate good prices individually.

And Mwomboshi farmers’ representative Peter Mwale said the pumps will help farmers improve their yields through irrigation throughout the year.