The Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre provides research and training support for small-scale farmers working to incorporate and implement more sustainable agricultural practices and engage in agroforestry.

Nature-based Intervention:

the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre Training Centre focuses on teaching and supporting the implementation of land restoration and sustainable agriculture techniques. More specifically, the Training Centre provides demonstration plots used for hands-on learning and research to support farmer testing of sustainable agriculture techniques. For example, the use of crop rotation, intercropping, composting, native seeds, nitrogen-fixing shrubs and cover plants have all been encouraged and supported through the Training Centre’s work. These efforts have helped increase the diversity and quantity of food available in the area. Additionally, agroforestry is carried out with the purpose of restoring degraded land, improving soil fertility, and increasing biodiversity. The trees planted not only provide non-timber forest products including fruits such as papayas, mangoes, oranges, and lemons, but also serve as windbreaks and living fences. “Biodiversity fairs” are hosted so that farmers can engage in mutual learning exchanges about various topics including crop diversification, apiculture, and agroforestry techniques. The Training Centre has also created a village saving initiative enabling women to access capital.

Overview of context and outcomes:

The Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre provides agricultural training, research, and marketing support to over 10,000 small-scale farmers in the Chongwe and Rufunsa Districts of Zambia. The area has suffered wide-scale deforestation due to a high demand for firewood and charcoal. Furthermore, the intensive use of chemical inputs to agriculture has degraded soils. These issues are further exacerbated by oncoming climate change-induced challenges including drought.