المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

Title of the experience   

Focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized people and groups

Geographical coverage

National

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Zambia

Your affiliation

Civil society/NGO

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

The VGRtF has been used to mobilize small scale farmers in influencing policies that favorable to the rights of small scale farmers in the rural areas. This has been in the form of access to land, credit and the right to indigenous seeds.

Brief description of the experience

Small scale farmers have been able to engage with policy makers and to have their concerns taken on board in various fora that have made recommendations for policy changes. Farmers have been able to access subsidized farm inputs and also formed cooperative movements for bargaining for their rights. Trainings have also been conducted on conservation farming, Agroforestry and agro-ecological farming practices which have helped the farmers to increase their farm yields through crop diversification and integrated farming. The use of indigenous seeds has also replaced Commercialized seeds which have been expensive for small scale farmers.

Who was involved in the experience?

Civil Society, government and traditional leaders

Sustainable farming methods, conservation farming and use of indigenous seeds that are resilient to climate change.

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

Advocacy and campaigns for the right to food and nutrition

Main activities

• Engagement with policy makers
• Formulation and implementation of policies
• Creating awareness about the right to adequate and nutritious foods in the communities
• Training in healthy  foods

Timeframe

3 years

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

9 trainings conducted for 270 small scale farmers soil fertility, integrated farming methods and seed multiplication

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

• Improved soil fertility
• Improved food yields and variety
• Reduction in child malnutrition and mortality
• Improved household incomes

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

• Improved farming methods
• Use of climate resilient seeds
• Improved policy environment
• Monitoring and evaluation of community activities

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

• Lack of information
• Climate change
• Lack of market access due and value chain development

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

• Farmer to farmer approaches use of lead farmers
• Stakeholder meetings
• Public discussions and farmer convergences

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

• Conservation farming ( agro ecological land use management)
• Agroforestry
• Integrated farming
• Crop diversification and use of indigenous seeds
• Small livestock management

Links to additional information

www.esaffregion.org