We completed the first planting of luecaena with maize in Chikwe village as part of our Chongwe Agroforestry Initiative aimed at making farmers climate resilient using sustainable agriculture practices.

Mr Banda, a builder and small scale farmer who has lived in Chikwla for more than 15 years, planted 200 Leucaena seedlings in his maize field near his home.

Mr Banda lives on the side of a mountain and he planted some of the Luecaena to act as a live hedge to prevent soil erosion in his maize field.

He also is planning to use the Leucaena leaves to feed the goats he plans to start keeping in the near future.

We are working with 300 farmers in 3 villages in Chongwe where we have held agroforestry trainings to help farmers become climate resilient in light of the persistent drought Zambia has experienced in recent times.

As part of the agroforestry training, farmers also received more than 150 Luecaena, Gliricidia Sepium and Musangu seedlings. These nitrogen fixing trees will help farmers get better maize yeilds.

These trees are also good for charcoal and firewood, which will make villagers rely less on native trees. This will fight climate change by reducing deforestation and aiding the natural regeneration of native forests.

Our next planting activity is in Chisengu village where we are going to plant 1000 Leucaena seedlings with 70 farmers.