Nokamu Sunflower Outgrower Farmers Receive Trainings
Based in Chipata, Nokamu operates agri-input sales outlets in eight districts of Eastern Province. These outlets sell a range of seed, feed, fertilisers and chemicals. The company has been working with smallholder farmers, running a sunflower out grower scheme by providing inputs and extension support to smallholder farmers.
Vincent Mwanza, Chikowa area Village Headman and farmer explained that Nokamu Agro is providing training to smallholder farmers on the importance of early land preparation and planting methods that result in high crop yields.
“We are already seeing the benefits of the interactions with Nokamu Agro through the off-take market that the company is providing. If this continues, we can have extra income to send our children to school and improve our community,” he added.
Headman Vincent encouraged other smallholder farmers in the community to join the Nokamu family to learn more about climate smart agricultural practices in their fields.
Another smallholder farmer Margret Banda is a beneficiary of training such as crop rotation, an agricultural practice that helps to retain soil nutrients despite the poor rainfall pattern during the agricultural season.
“In addition to the training, I have also managed to retain some cooking oil from the sunflower produce for my household. This has helped us to save cost of buying cooking oil,” Margret said.
With support from the European Union funded Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund project implemented by Self Help Africa with support from Imani Development, Nokamu Agro is expanding the out-grower scheme of smallholder farmers in order to secure a sustainable supply of quality sunflower, increasing access to certified seed in order to increase yields and quality high oil content. This will also include the construction or refurbishment of warehouses for bulking and storage.