Empowering the marginalized Inadequately Served Population in Rural areas of Africa through sustainable fish farming

“Triple Multiplier Pass-on effect” is an innovative approach used to create project sustainability, maximize project impact, facilitate scalability and coax community adoption of the project. 
PAZESA Horticultural Community has witnessed another bumper harvest of fish on 24^th October, 2013 at  Penner Roberts Gardens, respectively, in Chiparamba Agricultural Block of Chipata district in Zambia. 800kgs of fish was harvested from 2 fish ponds belonging to Mrs Felistus Phiri. Felistus Phiri, a 28 year old young woman, keeping 8 children of whom 4 are orphans, who was trained and empowered in fish farming by PAZESA Horticultural Community with financial support from firelight foundation of USA, has managed to produce a bumper fish harvest worth over $1, 600 USD from a 500m squared fish pond at a minimum total production cost of $100 USD. Despite the inadequate rainfall, Felistus has prepared to pass-on to 2 other families. She is determined to procure enough agricultural inputs for the next season.

A 500m² fish pond stocked with 500 brooders (of rendarii and andersonii species {poly-culture mixed species}) in December 2012 at a stocking cost of $100 USD produced 800kgs worth $1,600 USD at $4/kg of table-size fish during this partial harvest. The owner of the fish pond, Felistus Phiri, proudly explained that she uses ‘agro-forestry biomass and animal manure’ to fertilize her fish pond.  She still has numerous fish and fingerlings left in the pond. Mrs Felistus Phiri hopes to Pass-on to two other fish farmers who she has already identified in order to scale-up the project and leverage resource provision.

The harvest was organized and done by PAZESA Horticultural Community, “Global Innovators Network for Rural Development in Africa” in conjunction with officers from the Department of Fisheries and Chipata Aquacultural Research Station. Mr. Robert Goma, a specialist fish-culturist and Researcher urged other fish farmers to practice sustainable integrated fish farming for poverty alleviation. He said that ‘fish farming has comparatively less labor as compared to other agricultural ventures. Fish farming is highly rewarding, a money spinner, and a reliable boat for poverty alleviation in rural areas. Fish farmers themselves control the pricing, hectarege and productivity as there are no limitations as to how many ponds a farmer should have.  The cost of running is affordable, minimal, reasonable and realistic whilst the returns are always overwhelmingly abundant’. 

PAZESA Horticultural Community practices the Triple Multiplier Pass-on effect strategy to scale-up and maximize the project impact among the rural under privileged (the inadequately served populations). This strategy brings hope to the hopeless rural poor as they economically empower each other, they team up to create rural community responsibility for poverty alleviation, fight HIV/AIDS and reduce food insecurity in the community. Fish farming provides very good readily available fish proteins for people living with HIV/AIDS enhancing positively living through better nutrition. This is a very good income generating activity for people living with HIV because the once established the cost or running and labor, is minimal as compare to the start-up cost.

“Triple Multiplier Pass-on effect” is an innovative approach used to create project sustainability, maximize project impact, facilitate scalability and coax community adoption of the project. The philosophy incites project beneficiaries to become grass-root donors by passing on a certain percentage of their profits to other vulnerable families. Three circles of beneficiary generations are therefore created as the first direct beneficiary empowers 2 other beneficiaries (subsequent beneficiaries). These subsequent beneficiaries latter pass-on to 1 beneficiary each their by maximizing the project impact. This process turns the rural poor who are beneficiaries into Grass-Root Donors so as to leverage resources mobilization; every beneficiary becomes a potential grass-root donor who empowers others in his community. 

Nevertheless, these fish farmers face a lot of challenges especially caused by climate change and predators. Most wetlands dry-up during the dry season which is a threat to fish farming as the ponds dry-up. Otters are also a very big problem because they invade the fish ponds and eat the fish at night especially during the dry season. These challenges can be mitigated through joint efforts of donors, PAZESA and the community. We need to include a strong component of climate mitigation/resilience, watershed management and water harvesting techniques as well as secure the fish ponds by strong fencing.

PAZESA Horticultural Community therefore urges all donors to support integrated fish farming, combat climate change and empower the rural under privileged through sustainable livelihood skills. Merge fish farming with HIV/AIDS programs, women and youth economic empowerment and rural development to minimize adverse impact and you will never regret.

Special thanks to Firelight Foundation, department of fisheries and the US Peace Corps in Zambia for your support.
Let us empowering the marginalized Inadequately Served Populations in rural areas of Southern africa through viable and integrated fish farming

If you are interested to support PAZESA Horticultural Community, the Global Innovators' Network for Rural Development in Africa, please do not hesitate to contact us on:

pazesacommunity@gmail.com or ginrda@gmail.com

Looking forward for another exciting episode of the activities at PAZESA. 

Enjoy the reading!

Paul Phiri

Executive Director

I-Know Netball Tournament (HIV/AIDS Education Program)

I-Know Netball Tournament (HIV/AIDS Education Program)

Empowering the marginalized Inadequately Served Populations in rural areas of Africa.

October 19th was a day of funny, celebrity, education and reflection for the people of Kalichero community in Zambia. 

At least 842 people attended this tournament from the neighboring villages. 386 youths (both female and male) attended the highly educative event where 5 Girls Netball Teams contested in an award winning HIV/AIDS Education campaign through educative sports (netball) called the “I know Netball Tournament” held at Zamanga village.  The event was organized by ‘’Global Innovators Network for Rural Development in Africa”, PAZESA Horticultural Community in conjunction with US Peace Corps volunteers, and MUZA Women’s Group. Corridors of Hope provided free VCT services whilst MUZEYI Rural Health Center provided HIV education through theatre.  

Fantastic, 112 people received VCT services; were tested for HIV and received their HIV Test results in just one day precisely within 4 hours. Such great achievement shows that there is great need for VCT services among the Inadequately Served Populations in the rural communities of Africa.  GINRDA NETWORK is looking forward to yet another exciting episode of this event.

The netball competition was stiff and run as a symposium in scope and magnitude. HIV/AIDS prevention messages were being delivered during breaks, goals celebrations and infringements.  Kalichero Netball Team emerged the first position and was awarded a “Gold quality I-know netball pack of jersey and 1 ball” and ZAMANGA Netball team was second was awarded a Sliver quality “I-know netball pack of jersey”. Kalewa Netball Team was third and got a “bronze quality I-know netball pack of jersey”.   

The traditional authorities (chief Chikuwe, in particular) were very happy with the event. In his speech ready by headman Zamanga the chief thanked the Peace Corps volunteers, PAZESA, GINRDA NETWORK, Corridors of Hope and MUZA women’s group for organizing such a highly important event. He urged the community to fully participate in such invents and most importantly to heed the counsel disseminated in the education campaign so as to fight HIV/AIDS in the quest to “Zero HIV prevalence.”     .

PAZESA Horticultural Community on behalf of the Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development in Africa  thank all the partners, donors, supporters and the traditional authorities and Peace corps volunteers for all your support; financial, technical and material.  

Let us unite the forces to fight HIV/AIDS by Empowering the marginalized Inadequately Served Populations in rural areas of Africa.

God Bless you all!

Paul Phiri
Executive Director

Mitigating the Impact Of HIV/AIDS through Viable and Sustainable Fish Farming (workshop)

On June 25^th, 2013, 42 fish farmers from Chipata District attended a fish farming workshop hosted by  4 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers from various villages in Chipata District, 2 Department of Fisheries Officers, and the Executive Director of PAZESA. The organizers of the workshop were PAZESA Horticultural community, “Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development in Africa” (GINRDA), Peace Corps volunteers and Department of fisheries in Zambia. The purpose of this workshop was to educate current fish farmers on improved fishpond management methods and encourage these farmers to intensify and expand their fish farming operations to ensure that local farmers are engaged in pursuits that help generate income and promote food security and proper nutrition.

The participants were drawn from “Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development in Africa” (GINRDA network) member organizations: MUZA Women’s Group, Alimi Amaziwana women’s group, SLID-ZAMBIA, Foundation for Economic Empowerment and Development (FEED), Kalichero Aids Trust, Kapatamoyo fish farmers, Chingaliwe Fish Farmers

and the Chiparamba community.

                The facilitators of this workshop, PAZESA Executive Director, Paul Phiri and the Peace Corps Volunteers Bradley Wells and Melissa Stelter, covered the topics of the benefits of fish farming, composting and feeding the fishpond, pond stocking-rate, preventing predators, fishpond management, harvesting the pond, and marketing fish. After providing instruction on these topics, the farmers visited Paul Phiri’s nine fishponds where Paul led a Question and Answer session about what the participants had learned that day, as well as discussing pond bloom, water quality, and marketing strategies.

                This workshop encouraged fish farmers to continue working with their local Department of Fisheries officers, Peace Corps Volunteers, and Lead Farmers to improve fishpond management and to promote fish farming within their community  as a means of generating a sustainable income and promoting food security to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. The farmers responded to this workshop enthusiastically, asking many questions, expressing a desire to expand their efforts, and were motivated by the visit to Paul’s nine fish ponds. Based on the success of this workshop, “Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development in Africa” (GINRDA) through PAZESA hopes to conduct this Chipata District Fish Farmers Workshop on an annual or bi-annual basis with the Department of Fisheries, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, PAZESA Horticultural Community, and local farmers. Future plans include conducting an Annual Inter-Country Knowledge Exchange Exposure Visit for the rural grass-root farmers in southern Africa.

People seemed to enjoy the workshop as they participated very actively and asked many interesting questions denoting determination. Most farmers have expressed keen interest to start fish farming and 6 fish ponds sites have already been selected. The workshop has encouraged the existing fish farmers to improve on their fish pond management and marketing strategies as well as motivate other farmers to do fish farming. During the presentation on the benefits of fish farming, the Director for PAZESA Horticultural Community, Paul Phiri, said that “fish farming has comparatively less labor and combats child labor because you do not need to herd the fish just as you herd cattle. Neither do you sleep at the fish ponds (just as you sleep in a brooders house if you rear broilers) nor spray pesticides/herbicides. The profit percentage is more than six times that of poultry. The feed which can be used to feed 100 chicken for 1 week can be used to feed 1000 fingerlings for one month.”
Farmers should therefore think of establishing their own fish farming venture to increase both household food security and income. “Fish farming is a very good innovative resource with which to improve one’s health especially in this trying ERA of HIV/AIDS. Fish provides a very good source of easily digestible protein which is good for the deteriorating immune system of people living with HIV/AIDS”, said Paul.

“Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development in Africa” encourages all  AIDS service organizations donors and the entire philanthropic world to consider supporting fish farming in HIV programs so as to enhance positive living through improved nutrition and low cost but high yield sustainable income generation. “Teach a man to fish” other than preach dependency through food-handouts at home based centers.

We thank all the people and organization who supported this training by providing food, beverages, transport and stationery. Special thanks to MUZA Women's Group, Tizawapeza Women's Group, farmers from Kapatamoyo and Chingaliwe for your contributions. This was excellent involvement of the participants in resource mobilization at grass-root level. Keep it up! We also thank the Peace Corps Volunteers and Department of fisheries for their support.

PAZESA Horticultural Community is looking forward to yet another exiting episode in the fish farming sector.
Enjoy the company!
Paul Phiri
ED

Innovative Rural Desktop/digital Library and Resource Center

Innovative Rural Desktop/Digital Library and Resource Center

        “Innovative Rural Desktop/Digital Library project” is a sustainable project designed by PAZESA Horticultural Community, to provide the rural under privileged with basic information and access to ICT for effective research, education, networking and knowledge transfer/exchange in Kalichero area of Chiparamba Agricultural block of Chipata district in Zambia. The project has since 2010 created a platform for knowledge exchange, research presentations, and education by coordinating with target groups in the rural areas and service providers. Through the desktop library and internet the community, including rural and marginalized Women, youth groups, cooperatives, students, and teacher, have access to technical know-how manuals, donor databases and their specific funding priorities, and research4life. Computer lessons are also provided, educating and empowering community members and providing them with the skills to access information. The library has been supported by Firelight Foundation of California in United States of America and the US PEACE CORPS.

Vision
A community with improved standards of living and improved learning conditions for the marginalized rural poor in Zambia.

Objectives
1) To improve the learning conditions for the marginalized rural under privileged students, scholars, researchers, youths, women, service providers and the general public (community) in Chiparamba area of Chipata district of Zambia.
 2) To create and deliver sustainable ‘Research4life and Development’ Education for the marginalized needy in rural areas of Chipata district of Zambia through ‘Educative desktop/Digital library’ Services (EDL).
3) To facilitate sustainable livelihood skills education to the marginalized, under privileged rural poor in Zambia.
4) To create the ‘Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development’ in Africa (GINRDA) so as to link and connect the rural community with the researchers, think tanks, donors, NGOs, universities and donor foundations for knowledge transfer, exchange and resource mobilization

Activities
1) Provide quality library services to the marginalized rural community through ICT and computer services.
2) Introduce the desktop/digital library to the marginalized community to allow ease access to scientific/social sciences, technical and medical information available to those who need it — researchers, clinicians, students, policymakers and the wider public.
3) Provide a platform for adoption of new innovative ideas to enhance Research4life and Development in rural areas.
4) Provide relevant information for Health, Agriculture, Aquaculture/Fisheries, Appropriate Technology, HIV/AIDS, Basic Children’s Rights, Human Rights and Sustainable Livelihood for Self-Employment to the rural community.
5) Train the rural children, youths and women in how to use computers (provide computer lessons)
6) Provide internet services to the rural community.

Collaborative Partners and Donors

The resource center and the desktop library has been supported by Firelight Foundation of California in United States of America through financial support to construct the resource center/library infrastructure, furniture and procure computers for the library. The US Peace Corps has also supported the library by providing financial support for the computers and providing 2 Peace Corps Volunteers to help implement library services and livelihood skills education.

Remarkable Achievements

• 10 Youths from eight youth groups have completed an introduction to computer lessons course.
• 162 farmers from 37 farmer groups have benefited from the library services through livelihood education.
• 15 Researchers from Chipata Aquacultural Research Station, the US Peace Corps and Msekera Research Station have instituted research4life and development knowledge transfer to marginalized farmers through the innovative library and resource center.
• Establishment of “Global Innovators’ Network for Rural Development’ in Africa” (GINRDA).

Challenges
a) Inadequate computers and limited resource center/library space to limits number of beneficiaries to be reached.

Future Plans
a) Expanding library infrastructure to accommodate more clients.
b) Procure more computers and high speed internet, furniture and establish a print and binding bay
c) Train library staff in professional librarian service as a development agent, ICT repair and programming.
d) Procure ICT repair kits, supplies and spares.
e) Create viable and sustainable means for project continuum.
f) Introduce ‘Mobile desktop library’

Appeal:
Call for Resource Provision PAZESA Horticultural Community is hereby calling on all well-wishers, researchers, think tanks, donor foundations, NGOs and learning institutions to support this rural library innovation through either resource provision (both financial and material), capacity building or institutional development. If you are interested email the Executive Director on: pazesacommunity@yahoo.com or pazesacommunity@gmail.com