Seeds for Life in Zambia

November to April is the rainy season in Zambia and this is the time when communities grow maize to be harvested in April. The maize is left to dry on the stems, collected, then stored for the winter months. Hunger amongst school children is always an issue in remote villages, where children have to walk up to ten miles each way to get to school. Often they have only one meal per day.

The Butterfly Tree has initiated feeding programs in eleven rural schools by providing them with seeds and fertilizer before the rainy season. This enables each school to provide food for children, as the World Food Program contributions are intermittent and far two often the schools receive it only during one term.

This year the yield was not as good as expected, but enough to provide maize for vulnerable and orphaned children. Vegetables can be grown during the dry season so long as there is a nearby source of water. The Butterfly Tree has ensured that all the schools have a well for safe drinking water and to use for irrigation.

The schools are situated in the Chiefdoms of Mukuni, Muskotwane, Sikute and Nyawa in the Kazungula District. During a recent visit I inspected the yield at some of the schools and it was a pleasure to see children receiving some food. Local women cook the maize and make it into n'shima, akin to mashed potato, and serve with beans and vegetables.

Any surplus maize will be sold to the communities and profits will be used to purchase seeds and fertilizer for the forthcoming year.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Newsletter - May 2014