Today, we had an inspiring meeting with Headman Tatile in Chongwe, marking a significant step forward for our agroforestry initiative.
During this initial gathering, we introduced Green Gold Social and shared our mission to restore native trees and enhance farmers’ yields through agroforestry.
Headman Tatile highlighted the pressing need for organic solutions to improve agricultural productivity, steering away from conventional fertilizers. We explained that many of the nitrogen-fixing trees in our nursery will be instrumental in enhancing soil fertility, providing a natural boost to local farming practices.
The headman expressed his enthusiasm for our project, recalling a previous government tree-planting initiative that had not succeeded. He leads Kapuka village, home to over 2,000 small-scale farmers who have been severely impacted by the drought conditions in Zambia during the 2023-24 El Niño cycle.
Recognizing the importance of our work, he committed to organizing an awareness meeting to educate his community about the benefits of agroforestry and the restoration of native trees. At this awareness meeting, we will register farmers interested in planting Musangu and Gliricidia seedlings—provided at no cost as part of our Chongwe Agroforestry Initiative. These seedlings will be distributed in January when rainfall is more stable, ensuring optimal planting conditions.
Additionally, we are thrilled to announce that Mr. Zulu has generously volunteered one of his maize fields in Kapuka village as a pilot site for our agroforestry project. This field will not only serve as a demonstration area but also as a training ground for other villages on how to effectively integrate tree planting with crop cultivation.
We toured Mr. Zulu’s maize field today, discussing plans for the pilot project and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for Chongwe’s farmers. We are excited about the potential impact of this initiative and look forward to working closely with Headman Tatile and the community to foster resilience against climate challenges while promoting sustainable agricultural practices!
