Iness Siambula, 45, is avegetable farmer from Sioni Village in Mangonda Ward of Zimba District. She is a mother of seven children aged between 7 and 26 years. In addition to caring for her children, Iness also looks after her mother and a person living with a
disability, making her household responsibilities even greater.
Before the LIFT-ZambiaProgram came to her community, Iness grew vegetables along a nearby stream. However, the stream would dry up around July, making water availability a major challenge. Her garden was also small because she relied on buckets to water her crops. The work was physically demanding, especially because she experiences
problems with her legs.
When the LIFT-Zambia Programstarted operating in her area, Iness was among the farmers who quickly embraced the opportunity. She began attending farmer trainings and took the initiative to invite project officers to her field to conduct practical demonstrations.
Through the knowledge andpractical skills she gained, Iness constructed a check dam along the stream. She says the check dam has helped her preserve water for longer periods, making it easier for her to continue farming even when the stream begins to dry.
“I want to thank the programbecause the knowledge I received helped me to construct a check dam along the stream. It has helped me preserve water,” Iness says.
Her transformation tookanother step when the LIFT-Zambia Program supported her with a water pump. The pump has enabled her to expand her vegetable garden and made irrigation much
easier.
“Before, watering was verydifficult because I was using buckets. Now, with the water pump, watering has become easy. Even my seven-year-old boy is able to help irrigate the garden,” she explains.
Iness has also adoptedmulching and the use of animal manure in her garden. These practices help retain soil moisture, meaning she does not have to irrigate as frequently as before. The reduced need for daily watering has also allowed her to use the
water pump for another important activity—making mortar for moulding bricks.
For the first time in herlife as a farmer, Iness is now moulding bricks to construct a house that she hopes will accommodate her entire family.
“I am using the same waterpump to make mortar for moulding bricks because I am no longer watering the garden every day. The moisture stays longer because of mulching and the use of
animal manure,” she says.
Her vegetable farmingbusiness has also improved her ability to save money. Iness says that, for the first time, she is able to keep about K2,000 from her vegetable sales every
week.
The benefits of theLIFT-Zambia Program have extended beyond her vegetable garden. Iness says the
knowledge she has gained has also changed the way she manages her field crops.
She has learned about crop rotation, intercropping, ripping, water management
to reduce soil erosion, and selecting early-maturing seed varieties based on
the amount of rainfall expected in her area.
“The coming of this programhas changed my way of life. I will never be the same again because I have learnt a lot. Even in my field crops, I have learnt how to manage my fields
through practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, ripping, water management to avoid soil erosion, and planting early-maturing varieties according to the amount of rain we receive in our area.”
For Iness, the LIFT-ZambiaProgram has provided more than farming inputs. It has given her practical knowledge, confidence, new opportunities and the ability to envision a better future for her family.
Her journey demonstrates howclimate-smart agriculture, practical farmer training and appropriate technologies such as water pumps can help rural households overcome water challenges, increase production, strengthen livelihoods and invest in their
future.
“I want to thank the LIFT-Zambia Program. Myrequest is that you continue training us farmers so that we can continue improving our lives.”