Kagezi Seeds has announced the expansion of its partnership under the USAID-supported food security initiative in Eastern Province. The project, which entered its second phase this crop cycle, aims to distribute improved, certified cowpea seeds to over 300 additional smallholder households in drought-prone districts including Nyimba and Petauke.
Eastern Zambia has faced increasingly irregular weather, with delayed rains and dry spells impacting standard grain yields. Cowpea, a nutrient-dense and climate-resilient legume, represents an ideal solution. It is highly drought-tolerant, has a short maturity cycle, and plays a vital role in soil restoration through natural nitrogen fixation, which benefits subsequent maize crops.
"Legumes are the cornerstone of climate-smart rotation. By integrating cowpeas into cereal-based farms, we are providing smallholders with an immediate protein source, a secondary cash crop, and a natural soil fertilizer all at once." — Mutinta Muyangwa, Crop Production Agronomist
Addressing Seed Security and Agronomic Support
The USAID-supported program covers both seed supply and localized advisory support. Kagezi Seeds' field extension officers are conducting village-level training sessions, teaching farmers optimal planting densities, intercropping, and proper post-harvest drying techniques. These practices minimize chemical inputs and reduce storage losses.
Crucially, this partnership is laying the groundwork for value-addition opportunities. Under our outgrower network, Kagezi Seeds guarantees the purchase of high-quality surplus cowpeas from participating farmers. These cowpeas are then transported to our Chisamba processing facility to serve as raw materials for our value-added product lines like Nutrava, closing the agricultural loop.
Strengthening Community Livelihoods
By offering high-quality seed on seasonal credit and combining it with guaranteed market access, the project significantly reduces the financial risks faced by smallholder farmers. The early results from Phase 1 show a marked stabilization in household incomes during dry cycles, demonstrating the long-term viability of Kagezi's social enterprise model.