Southern Province Household Food Security Programme

Southern Province Household Food Security Programme

Southern province is one of the poorest in Zambia and one of the most vulnerable to climatic disasters. The province was particularly hard hit by drought in 1991 and 1992, when crop production plunged by an estimated 93 per cent. Several districts had very high malnutrition levels as a result. The goal of the project was to improve the long-term resilience of small-scale farmers to the effects of drought by boosting their productivity. Project activities included:

• ensuring agricultural extension services
• ensuring that research and technical assistance supported extension services according to farmers’ needs
• providing animal production and health care services
• distributing drought-resistant seed varieties for traditional crops
• providing on-farm storage facilities
• creating a fund to support community initiatives such as building of earth dams, cattle dips and irrigation works
• improving access roads
• providing safe water supplies

The project worked in partnership with UNICEF, which supported health and child care activities and health care reform in the province.

Source: IFAD