Newsletter January 2006

Pioneering New Solutions for Conservation and Rural Development in >Zambia

COMACO Monthly Newsletter ? Reports from the Field

January 2006 Issue

Fishpond construction exceeds targets and wins support from District Authorities

Field Report by Handsen Mseteka, COMACO/WCS Extension Coordinator, Luangwa District

It was during the beginning of January when I went out into the field with both the District Agricultural. Co-operative Officer (DACO) and the District Fisheries Officer (DFO), both from Chongwe, to show them the fishponds that were made by our fish farmers in Mpanshya and Shikabeta Chiefdoms.

The program started on the 2^nd January 2006, when we inspected five fishponds. On the following day we proceed to Lubalashi Village Area Group of Chief Shikabeta?s area. In Lubalashi, COMACO had targeted five fishponds to be constructed. Instead, we were happily surprised to find our farmer groups had constructed 19. The DFO was so much impressed. One man, called John Mambwe, had ten fishponds, and they were nicely done and followed the proper specification. The farmer had followed every detail of the training. He was expected to build only one pond but instead he built 10.

The most interesting part of the story is that Mr. Mambwe had also erected 30 traditional bark hives, and out of these 22 were already occupied. The hives were nicely made and properly hung. The DACO was most impressed with Mr. Mambwe and after interviewing learned he had participated in COMACO?s poultry training course and had put this training to good use by having a poultry farm of over 150 village chickens.

What really surprised the DACO was learning that Mr. Mambwe had been a notorious poacher until he joined the COMACO program under WCS. After hearing about this, the DACO decided to further empower the man with a male and female goat to remind the community how committed Government is to the success of COMACO.

Our travels continued up to 5 January. During our tour we verified a total of 44 fishponds were ready for stocking. Total number of fingerlings needed for COMACO?s fishpond building program in this area is about 35,000, of which the offices of the DACO and the DFO have provided 20,000 and WCS will contribute an additional 15,000.

?The Food Security Challenge in Nabwalya Met Head-on?

Field Report by Mukamba Mwangala, COMACO/WCS M&E Officer, Lundazi

Nabwalya Chiefdom extends from the west bank of the>Luangwa River up to the Muchinga escarpment, making the area inaccessible, especially during the wet season. The area is very rich in wildlife and is surrounded by three parks, North and South Luangwa National Park and Luambe National Park. Many local residents are seasoned hunters with a history of poaching. COMACO?s interventions rely initially on maize support from World Food Program to encourage farmers to take farming seriously and to learn the benefits of new skills that can replace the need to hunt. The approach has begun to take off in Nabwalya, despite the enormous logistical difficulties of working in the area. COMACO required close involvement of local leaders to help COMACO staff monitor maize beneficiaries to ensure they complied with conservation farming and composting before receiving maize. In addition, local leaders helped organize the distribution of maize, which necessitated recipients to collect their food rations from the>Luangwa River, since the trucks were only able to reach its bank due to deep waters. The distribution took several days for each of the multiple maize deliveries, as the walking distance for the most of recipients was about 5 to 15 KM to the distribution point. The full rations that were given out included vegetable oil, maize and beans. Each of the recipients received a maize bag weighing 50Kg; which went with a 5 Kg of pulses (red beans) and 1.5 kgs of vegetable Oil. A total of about 400 people of equal sex received rations. Recipients had to cross the Luangwa River over a stretch of about of a 5 km, and the level of the water was about waiste deep at the deepest point.

The hunger situation in Nabwalya was critical and threatened human life in 2006, due mainly to low rainfall during 2004/2005 crop season and secondarily to poor farming practices and crop damage by wild animals. A disaster affecting both humans and the inevitable loss of natural resources would have occurred on a large scale were it not for the support from WFP maize administered under the COMACO programme with support from Government and local leaders. 2

New Rice Scheme Brings Alternative Income and Improved Rain Water Management to Mambwe Farmers

Field Report by Whiteson Daka, COMACO/WCS Extension Coordinator, Mambwe

COMACO donated 15 tons of Chama rice seeds to farmers in Mambwe District under a scheme that uses levees to hold rain water for growing rice on a large scale. This simple technology is a new approach to farming. As a desired cash crop having high food value, rice reduces farmers? interest in growing other cash crops that potentially conflict with wildlife habitat. Wildlife generally disperses away from flooded rice fields.

Rains came late this year but indications of a successful yield of over 200 tons look promising if rains continue. The initiative is part of an overall

effort to increase food security while increasing opportunities for added household income. Under the scheme 415 households have established eight 30 hectare rice fields in five different chiefdoms. COMACO has purchased a rice polishing machine to process the rice into a packaged product, giving producers a higher price for the rice they will sell to the Mambwe trading centre. In exchange, farmers increase their commitment to wildlife conservation.

Conservation farming a condition for receiving maize

Recipients verified compliance first before receiving maize.

Family members share the load taking rations home

Recipients carried rations across the Luangwa River

Levees hold water to reduce the potential impact of drought on rice production. Households have expressed great appreciation with increased support for cooperating with wildlife conservation