Viable - Sustainable Climate Smart Poverty alleviation and Food Security Initiative

Promoting: “Man-Bio Super Grow Media”- An effective Climate Smart initiative to curb Climate Change

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

High (abject) Poverty level and food-insecurity caused by Low Agricultural/Aqua-cultural productivity perpetrated by drastic climate change constrain the well-being of the marginalized people in developing countries especially Sub-Saharan Africa.

The average farmers, women, youths and children in rural areas of Southern Africa live under abject poverty (less than $1 USD/day} and eat once the other day especially between December and April of each calendar Year because of low agricultural productivity. Consequently, women and girls are forced to in indulge in prostitution, unprotected sex and extra-marital infidelity just to raise either food, money or both to earn a living. Male youths and adults indulge in Juvenile delinquency, charcoal burning, poaching and illegal fishing using toxins to raise money and food. Therefore, it is cardinal to comprehensively address this inter twinned problem (Poverty-hunger-Food insecurity and low Agriculture productivity chain problem) to improve the well-being of people in Africa. Addressing the problem will enable the world attain Sustainable Development Goal 1 (To End Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger and SDG 3 (Health and

Well-being) of the people everywhere.

This is the ideal time to address the problem because of:

1. Availability of innovative production Technics to boost Agricultural and Aqua-cultural productivity
2. Plenty unemployed determined youths and women yearn to do farming enterprise but are being discouraged by Climate Change, low agricultural productivity and poor marketing
3. Availability of sustainable cost effective solar irrigation systems to ensure production continuum.
4. The need to create community adaptation and resilience to climate change

PROJECT AIM

To empower young people with viable and sustainable, environmental friendly, climate smart organic farming production technics  to enhance agricultural productivity, boost food security, reduce hunger and reduce poverty levels in Zambia.

Vision

A community where farmers have Improved all year round food security (Zero Hunger), increased income, reduced poverty levels, with reduced cost of production and improved climate change adaptation and resilience.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. To create rural community responsibility for improved and enhanced agricultural productivity, all year round food security and reduce high poverty levels among 20 Climate Smart Community Educators (Trainers) in Zambia through "Man-Bio Super Grow" technology transfer by September 2020

1. To facilitate viable and sustainable cost effective , climate smart, innovative ("Man-Bio Super Grow" technology) Agricultural knowledge transfer to 100 farmers in Zambia by September 2020
2. To facilitate integrated Sustainable Aqua-cultural production among 10 fish farmers Trainers in Zambia by September 2020
3. To facilitate "Man-Bio Super grow" technology Transfer to 650 in Zambia through knowledge field schools by September 2020

PROJECT METHODOLOGY AND INNOVATION -innovative and scalable (or big and bold)

"Man-Bio Super Grow" is an organic blend of Lime, Manure, Agro-forestry biomass and beneficial Micro- organisms to the soil to enhance (double) agricultural productivity to attain Maximum Economic Yield. The project uses "Appreciative Inquiry" development approach which focuses on the 4 Ds.: “Discovery” (To appreciate best self-personalities, capabilities and community Resources), "Dream" (To enable participants to visualize their desired vision), "Design" To enable participants to plan their destiny) and "Destiny (To enable participants to act on their planned actions to archive their objectives so as to reach their Destiny and do more of their best. This strategy incites the participants to focus on success than problem stacking, to own development activities and ensures project sustainability and continuum.

WHAT MAKES IT INNOVATIVE AND SCALABLE (OR BIG AND BOLD)

1. "Man-Bio Super Grow" boost crop production; Irish potato grown in sacks from less than 1 kg/plant to a minimum of 15 kg/plant for an average rural farmer and from 3 kg to 35 kg for peasant farmers. "Man-Bio Super Grow" increases tomato and vegetable production by 58 %, maize by 40% and citrus by 60%.
2. Improves soil fertility and minimizes fertilizer use, soil erosion and reduces per-capita cost of production by 50%
3. It integrates NEW organic farming Technics with cost effective solar irrigation systems for improved all year round agricultural production to enhance food security
4. Promotes the use of and adherence to conservative, environmental friendly, Innovative, Climate Smart, Manure-Biomass Super Grow media called "Man-Bio Super Grow” Technology for enhanced Agricultural and Aqua-cultural Productivity.
5. Under Minimum tillage, "Man-Bio Super Grow" used in pot-holes conservation farming, improves soil and field water holding capacity thereby increases plant resistance and adaptation to climate change.
6. Induces all Year round fingerlings production and fast growth of fecund tasty fillet fish in Tilapia fish species.
7. User-friendly; beneficiaries will be trained on how to make their own Man-Bio Super Grow to ensure project sustainability, scale-up and replication.
8. Within 3 years, every farmer will be making their own "Man-Bio Super Grow Media", reduce fertilizer use and reduce inputs' cost by half.
9. Reduces farmers' Dependency on fertilizer

Who will benefit

130 Women/youths Direct Beneficiaries, 650 women/youths as indirect beneficiaries. Marginalized, underserved farmers of mixed gender in Kalichero 1 and Mnukwa Agricultural Camps in Chipata in Zambia will benefit as follows:

1. 20 women/youths Educators" to be trained (Training of Trainers) on how to make their own "Man-Bio Super Grow Media" for Climate smart Irish potatoes grown in sacks under cost effective solar irrigation farming.
2. Each Trained "Educator" will be empowered with the resources to pilot innovative climate smart potato and vegetable production and marketing and leadership skills
3. 10 women/youths to be trained in Climate Smart integrated Aquaculture value chain production enterprise using super biomass for phyto-plankton bloom
4. 100 women/youths to be trained and empowered in Innovative Climate Smart True Seed potato and vegetable production and marketing.
5. 650 indirect beneficiaries to benefit through "Pass-on" impact Multiplier effect during knowledge transfer Field school to maximize project impact

The Photos above are showing the effects of Man-Bio Super Grow Technology on various crops.

Are if interested to support this project/ Please contact us on: pazesacommunity@gmail.com 

VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE, INNOVATIVE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AGAINST NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Each year 15 million people worldwide die between the ages of 30 and 69 from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as heart diseases, cancers, diabetes and respiratory diseases. Over 85% of these people live in low and middle-income countries.

SITUATION ANALYSIS IN ZAMBIA:
80% of all Non-Communicable Disease related deaths in Zambia are among 30 and 70 years. 75 % of these deaths are caused by Non Communicable Diseases: diabetes, heart disease, respiratory diseases and cancer as consequences result of “High Risk Behaviors” like alcoholism, smoking Tobacco and bad nutrition. Almost three quarters (70%) of these deaths are linked to habits, or risk behaviors, that started in adolescence and go on throughout adult life. The most common ones are lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating, alcohol abuse and tobacco use. (Source: Zambia 2016 Demographic and Health Report).

PROJECT AIM

To empower young people with viable and sustainable health knowledge, improved nutrition education, behavior change communication skills, viable and sustainable livelihoods to improve their health and well-being and curb Non-communicable Diseases. 

VISION: A community where youths live a responsible life free from High risk behavior bondage and reduced cases of fatal non-communicable diseases.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
1. To improve the well-being of 50 youths in the need to adopt better healthful nutrition to curb non-communicable Diseases in Kalichero area by November 2020.
2. To reduce unhealthful nutritional high risk behavior which leads to non-communicable Diseases among 200 youths in Kalichero area by November 2020.
3. To empower youths with viable and sustainable livelihood skills for enhance health and well-being in Kalichero by November 2020.

PROJECT METHODOLOGY AND INNOVATION
“Appreciative Inquiry” (AI) model is the development approached to be used. Being at the ‘Exploring challenges and opportunities stage’, the project will enable the participants/beneficiaries to explore the challenges and consequences of bad habits, high risk behaviors (influential/leading to Non-communicable Diseases) and opportunities and benefits of healthful habits. Appreciative Inquiry focuses on DISCOVERY the BEST in people, the BEST in their organization and the BEST in the world around them, what works BEST, and embarks on doing more of what is most needed. This will drive participants to and community to discover the best in themselves, the best around them and the best in their community and will facilitate behavior change by imploring youths to do more of their best instead of judge and condemn them.
The project will facilitate quality health education on the causes, prevention measures and proven health management therapies theories of Non-Communicable Diseases to improve the well-being of young people in the community, change the mindset of youths and young people, and create community resilience towards non communicable Diseases in Zambia. The project will facilitate ideal health and nutrition education to beneficiaries in the community, facilitate behavior change communication skills and initiate “Tobacco/Alcohol Free Zone Livelihood skills training and recreation center” at PAZESA Resource Center. The Tobacco-smoke/alcohol Free training center will to help youths and young people age between 10 and 30 years to learn livelihood skills to generating food security and nutrition and income to improve their well-being. Coupled with behavior change communication skills, young people will be able to fight, prevent and manage Non Communicable Diseases like, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Lung Cancer, Heart diseases and Respiratory diseases.

PAZESA will promote health dietary and nutrition education to improve the well-being of youths. The following Low glycemic foods will help reduce blood Sugar, High Blood Pressure, high Cholesterol:

Fish (rich in protein, minerals, Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins) increase levels of a hormone called adiponectin which improves insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of developing full blown diabetes.

Avocado (has low glycemic poly unsaturated fatty acids and poly unsaturated fatty acids)

Cherries/berries, tomatoes contain anthocyanin which protects against diabetes and obesity.

Eat healthy food!                                     Grow your own, it’s cheap and sustainable!

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Paul Phiri

Executive Director