DuPont Pioneer, Musika Collaborate in Zambia
16 February 2016 DuPont Pioneer and Musika launched the Zambia Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program (ZAMSAP), a collaborative initiative that will see maize smallholder farmers access agricultural inputs, training and market linkages to increase their harvests and household incomes.
Farmers who are part of ZAMSAP will benefit from quality hybrid seed varieties from Pioneer and PANNAR SEED, agronomic education and on farm training, extension services and market facilitation support that will incorporate them into strong commodity supply chains.
ZAMSAP is modeled on the successful Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program (AMSAP) launched by Pioneer in Ethiopia in 2013.
“DuPont Pioneer is committed to collaborating to address the challenges which substantially impact the productivity of smallholder farmers in Zambia,” said Prabdeep Bajwa, regional director Africa for DuPont Pioneer. “ZAMSAP will address these challenges by giving farmers access to training, resources, technology and to markets, enabling them to boost their yields to improve their livelihoods.”
Musika is providing financial and technical support towards the establishment of “last mile” buying points in isolated areas, training and deploying a well-equipped and trained extension staff.
“By supporting DuPont Pioneer to provide a comprehensive and information-based ‘bundled’ service to smallholder farmers, Musika believes that an environment is created where farmers have the confidence and knowledge to invest in their production and improve their incomes,” said Musika Managing Director, Reuben Banda. “Farmers will get access to productivity enhancing technologies, coupled with practical technical advice in the correct usage of the seed and associated inputs, leading to higher yields and contributing to poverty reduction.”
Pioneer is working with the government of Zambia through the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Gender and Child Development and Musika to support women and youth farming communities. ZAMSAP will provide seed to demonstration plots and field training sessions in the Chembe, Mpika, Chinsali, Luwingu, Mungwi, Solwezi, Kasempa, Mufumbwe and Kabompo districts where market access is poor and extension services are limited.
The Program aims to reach 30,000 farmers in 2016, with the potential to scale up to reach approximately 100,000 maize farmers by 2018. Since January 2016, 274 demonstration plots have been planted through a pilot initiative involving 206 women groups, 57 youth groups, and 11 schools across the 10 districts in the North Western, Northern, Muchinga and Luapula Provinces.
Maize is a staple crop and a significant contributor to Zambia’s economic and social development, providing jobs, income and food. The country currently has an average maize yield of about 2.4 metric tons per hectare, which is slightly above the average 2 tons per hectare of maize yields in Africa and 10 tons per hectare in the U.S. By adopting hybrid seed and using improved farming inputs and techniques, participating farmers will be able to achieve significant productivity gains and increase their yields two-fold or more.
Click here to watch the AMSAP video on YouTube.
Source: DuPont Pioneer
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