Namwala District faces harsh climate conditions, characterized by dry soil, withered vegetation, and prolonged droughts that have severely impacted agricultural productivity. Chivunga, like many farmers in the region, experienced repeated crop failures due to climate-related issues, including droughts and floods. In recent years, Zambia has faced widespread crop failure, with a prolonged drought destroying over 980,000 hectares of maize out of the 2.2 million hectares planted nationally.
As part of the SCRALA project, Chivunga received training in Conservation Agriculture. These techniques emphasize soil moisture preservation, erosion prevention, and nutrient retention, resulting in improved crop yields even in adverse weather conditions. Starting with plant basins on one hectare of her farmland, Chivunga quickly achieved better harvests compared to traditional farming methods. She later adopted ripping practices using project-provided tools, such as a ripper, sprayer, and herbicides. The use of rip lines has helped her effectively apply fertilizer and lime to neutralize soil acidity, fostering deeper-rooted maize plants that are resistant to drought.
During the 2023/2024 farming season, Chivunga harvested 75 bags of maize weighing 50 kilograms each from one hectare of land, surpassing the national average yield. Her maize provides food security for her household and income through sales at K600 (USD 23) per 50kg bag. She also grows additional crops such as groundnuts and cowpeas. With surplus maize production, she has supported extended family members affected by drought.
Chivunga also trains 14 follower farmers in Conservation Agriculture, helping them adopt these practices to improve their harvests. As a lead farmer, she empowers other women in her community by sharing these techniques. From her personal field, she harvested 30 bags of maize from one lima.
The SCRALA project, financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and UNDP, with technical support from organizations such as WFP, FAO, ZMD, and WARMA, facilitates the dissemination of conservation farming methods. Routine training sessions, community radio programs, and farmer field schools reach farmers across 16 targeted districts. So far, 129,414 farmers—48% women—have been trained. The initiative also provides essential climate and weather information to aid farmers in making informed decisions about planting and marketing strategies, promoting resilience and sustainable agricultural productivity.