The International Development Enterprise (IDE), a nonprofit development agency has launched a rural prosperity initiative (RPI) targeting 14,000 small holder farmers in Zambia, Times of Zambia reported Thursday.
During the launching ceremony, IDE country director Keith Henderson said in Lusaka on Tuesday that the RPI program would target small holder farmers producing mainly vegetable in order to help raise income levels.
Henderson said the project funded by the Gates Foundation and launched in collaboration with Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) had targeted Kabwe, Lusaka, Kafue, Monze, Pemba, Choma and Livingstone of Zambia as initial focus areas.
"So far in one year, we are already working with over 100 farmer groups comprising 5,000 small holder farmers," he said.
Under the program, IDE would disburse a total of 2.5 million U. S. dollars over a four year period.
Henderson said IDE is focused on improving standards of living for small holder farmers in various countries.
"Our typical target groups are small holder farmers currently earning less than 2 dollars per day," he said.
The four-year-term project was good for the farmers because it would give them ample time to get used to growing crops for target markets and develop sustainable relationships with the buyers, he said.
"Farmers will continue expanding their production and increasing their incomes using the knowledge and skills, market access acquired from the project in a sustainable way even after the RPI projects ends," he added.
Source: Xinhua
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