My name is Selina Munsaka. I am 58 years old, married, and a mother of six children. I live in Makowa Village, under Simango Ward of Musokotwane Chiefdom, in Kazungula District, Southern Province of Zambia. I am a peasant farmer.
For many years, gardening was my main source oflivelihood. I cultivated vegetables—mainly rape and a few tomatoes—on a small piece of land measuring one Lima. I relied entirely on traditionalfarming methods, especially flood irrigation. Every day, I carried water using buckets, spending nearly five hours just to water one Lima,and even then, the water was never enough for the crops to grow well.
I also lacked technical knowledge in land preparation, fertilizer application, and pest management. I farmed the same way my parents had taught me, without access to modern agricultural practices. As a result, my crops did not last long, yields were very low, and my income was poor. Life was extremely difficult—the work was labor-intensive, yet the returns were too small to meet my family’s needs.
In May 2023, my life changed when Response Network came to our area. Through group learning sessions, we were trained in modern garden management and introduced to the Micro-Investment Model. We received farming inputs such as drip irrigation kits, fertilizer, horticultural seeds,and 20-liter buckets, which we used as water tanks.
Through these trainings, I gained practical knowledge in proper land preparation, irrigation methods, fertilizer application, and pest control. I immediately applied what I learned in my garden—and the results were remarkable.
I expanded my garden from one Lima to two hectares. Previously, I earned only K1, 000 to K3, 000within three months. Today, I grow a variety of crops, including freshmaize, tomatoes, cabbage, okra, and rape, and I now earn aboutK20,000 within three months from the same farming activities.
In early 2024, I received further support in the form of a solar booster pump and additional drip irrigation kits at an individual level. This intervention greatly improved my productivity. I no longer spend money on fuel because the system runs on solar power, significantly reducing my production costs. From the income I earn, I have already managed to purchase an additional set of drip kits and a solar booster pump on my own.
My next goal is to buy a wire fence to protect my garden from domestic animals such as cattle and goats, which are a major threat, especially during the dry season.
The booster pump I received is also shared with my neighbors, Geoffrey Kalangu and Brian. They have benefited greatly and have adopted the same farming model, with plans to purchase their own drip irrigation kits in the future.
Today, many people from my community visit my garden to learn. I freely share my knowledge because they can clearly see the transformation in my life—how I dress, how my family eats, and how I am now able to support my grand children with their school requirements.
At home, I now actively participate in household decision-making alongside my husband because I contribute economically. This empowerment has completely transformed my life.
I am no longer the woman I used to be. I am now an economically empowered and confident woman, and my story isa living testimony of what knowledge, support, and determination can achieve.