Katsumwa

Katsumwa farming club still going strong with irrigation, even as rainy season approaches.

Chibanzi: early land preparation and beehives

Chibanzi farmers started beekeeping last week with two beehives. They also showed us their gardens, ready well in advance for the rains to come.

A good yield

Onions at Mziza and tomatoes at Katsumwa. Farmers use late season harvests to fund bigger gardens during the rainy season. The onions pictured below are worth about $100, or enough capital to plant 1 acre of corn. The basket of tomatoes sells for $10 to $20, depending on the market.

 

Beez

Bees take residence in a beehive. Honey is sold to raise money toward the next growing season.

Mr Store does it again

While most farmers are busy preparing their upland garden to plant maize in the rainy season. Mr. Store is already planting maize, which will be irrigated for next two months until rain arrives. 

He is also harvesting and selling onions. Mr. Store is an outstanding farmer, harvesting and planting throughout the year.

Farmers are ready for the rain at Mziza

Early preparation for rainy season planting is now complete at Mziza. Farmers have been trained to prepare early by making ridges and weeding their gardens. They also gather the fertilizer and seeds as soon as possible in the year.

 

Crops coming up at Chifuchambewa

The irrigated fields at Chifuchambewa.