Report Following Visit by Anthony Chitambala (ZAM18b)

Recent Events

Floods

The heavy rains started much earlier than was expected in Chaba, across Zambia many parts experienced early rainfall. Flooding had already started even before rice could grow any roots. This meant that rice seeds were swept away by the floods and for those that stayed in the ground, they started to rot. Even with what remained in the ground, surviving was not guaranteed as the floods covered about 30 cm higher than the rice. As is the case, there are worms and fish in the lake that overspilled into the rice and cassava fields. Every farmer who had rice within a radius of 300 m from shore was affected and within that range of 300 m, everyone had a loss.

There was only one man in the meeting, Fube, who had some yields and that is because he lives on the upper land, much further away from the lake. He, of course, did not get the yields as expected but did have some harvest to give to his family. Out of the 2 hectares of rice he only got 50 kg and 1 tin of rice. Equally he was affected by heavy rains that uprooted rice and although he stays on upper grounds, he experienced some flooding but not as much as the others who planted along the lake. 

I visited one of the sites where they planted rice and even today water is there. You can see in one of the pictures I have sent. 

With these reports, a discussion started in the group on how they can do best with rice considering the heavy rains and floods are things that come unexpected. They discussed the possibility of taking the rice fields a bit further away from the lake but this would mean less water and this would have its own challenges in that they would have to spend more money on the particular rice seeds that survive in less water and they would need fertilizer. A 10 kg bag of rice seed costs K150 and 2 bags of D compound would cost K800. This would be impossible for each farmer to afford. 

Two outcomes came from this discussion; one of which was that this group needed to be registered as a Cooperative so that they can benefit from subsidized farming inputs. The area councilor, who is also part of this team, is going to assist in registering them as a Cooperative. Another idea that came was that in the absence of artificial fertilizer, they encouraged each other to start using mole hills because they are rich in manure. 

Peter ended this discussion with an assurance that even this year they can try to do rice further away from the lake to avoid too much water but use the mole hills as manure especially that Chaba has them everywhere. They can crush them and spray them over their fields. He also assured them that the loans are ready in the form of rice seed and a bag of D compound fertilizer which they have to pay back. The total loan for each farmer was K550 and 55 of the farmers benefitted, bringing the loan to K30,250 (US$1,500). I witnessed some of the farmers getting the loans.  

Cassava

The cassava farmers have not experienced much of a loss yet as compared to the rice farmers. Losses have been there but on a minimal scale as many of them planted on higher ground. I visited two of the latest farmers who were recruited last year, Margaret Kaluba and Fortunators Kanja (photo on right). Both Margaret and Kanja have cassava that is still growing and are yet to taste of their labour when the cassava is ready. The losses so far made in their fields have been due to the heavy rains, leaving their fields water logged and this resulted in roots getting rotten. 

From what is there already, there is hope that this will not be disappointing if this season’s rainfall is not as much as the last season. 

The old cassava farmers were encouraged to assist the new cassava farmers with 20 sticks from each old farmer. This will help the new farmers to plant in their fields.   

Maize

Everywhere across Zambia the maize yields have not been so good considering the heavy rains that came, particularly towards the end of the rainy season when everyone was hoping their maize would now be drying. Despite the rains destroying some of the crops, there are still some people such as Grace Chalwe (photo on right) and Audria Kaluba who have been able to harvest much better than they expected after heavy rain. Their harvest will at least see them to the next harvest season of 2021.

Grace told us that she has sold some of her bags to the Food Reserve Agency and she still has plenty for the family to use. Equally Audria Kaluba sold some of their bags and has enough left for the family to eat until the next season harvest.  

Extension Bible School

The Extension Bible School currently has a membership of 22 students who are all in the second year. Currently there is no first-year class. The centre for training in the second year is Kabweulu, and students come from Mofu, Minswa, Chimbwi, Chifwenge and Bemba villages.  The Extension course has had a positive impact on many of those who have attended after attending their first year.

In the first-year class, there was a lady by the name of Jennifer Chilufya of Roman Catholic background with a history of having been married to several husbands. Along the way in the studies, she decided to give her life to the Lord. It was at this time it was discovered that she was demon possessed and she asked for prayer.  Regards her marital status, after giving her life to the Lord and learning about marriage and the Christian home, she decided to stay single and wait upon the Lord to give her a husband with whom she can stay with for life as God intended marriages to work. She is a living testimony. 

I met with Michael Mumba and Fube Chitenta from Minswa village and Augustine from Mofu Village. They said that the Extension Bible School has brought growth spiritually to the members of the churches where the students have come from. The growth of the students is spilling over to others in their respective churches. 

The introduction of the second-year class is of great help especially that the course is a blend of both Biblical courses like Bible Interpretation and livelihood courses such as Entrepreneurship.  It is unfortunate that some students were left to be in the second year because they failed the first year while others did not finish due to personal challenges. With the introduction of the second year and the kind of courses being offered, many have asked if the first year can be re-introduced so that they also learn like others are and grow in their faith. If this was to be possible, they proposed that the next class can be in Minswa village. 

In addition to the benefits of studying Biblical and livelihood courses, the Extension Bible School has helped fathers continue providing for their families while studying at home, unlike the residential courses which affect how families survive when parents go to study. Those who cannot afford to go to Bible schools elsewhere due to finances have greatly appreciated the Bible School coming to their doorstep, particularly now that the economy in Zambia has not been doing well.

Rice Mill (ZAM16a)

Recently, the hammer mill experienced a mechanical fault which has been repaired and when we went to Chaba, Peter took oil to refill it so it starts to operate again. 

Personal Stories

Mumba Michael Mulenga

Michael Mumba is a student in the Extension Bible School. He lives in Minswa with his family. As a student, a Church Elder and itinerant preacher he is expected to move. Unfortunately, he finds it hard to move due to his condition. 

Michael was once an athlete and a prolific player. He had ambitions to play football beyond his own community and become a professional footballer. His dream could not be realised as he had a spine injury in one of the games. That injury has left him crippled for many years, he cannot walk more than 2 km before he starts feeling pain in his spine and cannot even do farming as the spine still gives him problems. Michael cannot even ride a bicycle; he needs someone to ride for him and take him wherever he desires. 

Michael’s prayer is that one day he can have a wheelchair (the kind that one sits in and is hand driven). This will help him move on his own, go where he wants and can do a lot of work that involves him walking. It will also provide comfort when he is sitting as he moves. 

As a student, he has shown commitment to learning and growing. He is above other students when one talks about commitment towards God’s work. 

Michael is asking for prayers and well wishers who would be willing to help him in his condition so that he can continue with the Extension classes and continue to serve the Lord effectively. 

Judas Bobo

I held talks with Judas and our discussion can be summarized in a few words. Judas has found it hard to operate with his boat engine for two main reasons: (1) he is new in the market and many customers prefer those who have been in the business longer and; (2) he has found it hard to work efficiently because without a boat of his own he cannot be available to offer transport as other people would hire the same boats he hires, leaving him with none to hire. These two factors have led him to fail to make money as projected. 

Judas has therefore decided to sell the engine and repay the loan he got and promised to do that by the end of December 2020. 

Plans for the Future

In talking to the people at Chaba, they have requested:
1) That the Extension Bible School continues as it has impacted many people’s lives. Speaking to Peter, he said that if this was workable and acceptable by the BHW board, it can still be run on the same budget that was submitted earlier. This time it will be in Minswa village. The idea is to start with the first-year class and then move to the second-year class. 

2) That the budget for rice, cassava and maize training and inputs still stands as last year. 

Comments

The farmers and students in the Extension programme are grateful to BHW for their unwavering support. They send their greetings and offer prayers for all involved in the BHW ministry and hope that their requests would be considered.