KASISI Project Launch – 18 Days After: From Award to Infrastructure

KASISI Project Launch 19 Days After: From Award to Infrastructure Nineteen days after the official launch of the Kanakantapa Solar Irrigation Scheme Initiative (KASISI) on 21st January, delivery is already visible on the ground. As part of the 2025 District Agriculture Awards, Mr. Kobi Mwansa, District Innovative Agriculturist of the Year, received an in-kind award deliberately structured as an implementation instrument to promote youth-led agricultural innovation at district level. Within 18 days of the launch, a 1 Lima drip irrigation system has been installed alongside a submersible solar pump using hybrid technology, operating on both solar and grid power to ensure reliable and climate-resilient irrigation. These installations are supporting the establishment of cabbage and okra production, with a community nursery bed scheduled for establishment in the coming days. With technical assistance from SEED Foundation, this intervention is designed as a practical learning site. Mr. Mwansa is a member of two cooperatives — Health Foods and Tuzenje — through which this KASISI pilot will benefit a wider consortium of farmers. Over the next 12 months, approximately 100 farmers across the two cooperatives are expected to benefit from shared learning, production systems, and replication of the irrigation model. Download Full KASISI Project Launch Report (PDF) 19 Days After: From Award to Infrastructure

Seed Foundation, the capacity-building unit of Schweizer Agriculture

Seed Foundation, the capacity-building unit of Schweizer Agriculture, has been invited to join efforts by working together with the Presidential Delivery Unit (Z-PDU) to facilitate a private sector agricultural and agribusiness forum. The event aims to boost seed production in support of the Government of Zambia’s ambitious goals: In preparation for the forum, Seed Foundation has engaged with the Ministry of Agriculture’ departments through its Technical Working Group on Seed Multiplication, Landscaping, and Horticulture. This collaboration aims to share insights, knowledge, and the latest technologies in the seed ecosystem with key stakeholders, including: The forum, scheduled for February 2025 at Mount Makulu, will feature Her Honor, Mutale W. Nalumango, MP, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, as the keynote speaker. The panel discussions will be spearheaded by Mr. Reuben Mtoro, Minister of Agriculture, and other experts in the seed ecosystem. To learn more about the Technical Working Group setup launched in Chongwe district at the Kanakantapa Resettlement Scheme, co-chaired by Schweizer Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture,

Community-Based Seed Multiplication Program in Chongwe District:

We’re implementing a program at Kanakantapa Resettlement Scheme, where four representatives from cooperatives will transform their associations and clubs into agribusiness models, shifting from dependence on handouts and social cash transfers to profit-making ventures. Through our pre-harvest training workshop, we equip them with wealth creation strategies: As they complete our incubation program, they’ll recognize the importance of: We’ll co-create a sustainable project focused on four crops suitable for their community, considering weather, soil, water, and supply chain linkages through an off-take agreement.

Foundation Quali Basic Seed

In Q4 of 2021, Schweizer Agriculture partnered with a Bill Gates & Melinda French Gates funded Foundation Quali Basic Seed, a USAID funded maize research CIMMYT to provide produce, maintain the purity of maize hybrid seed SA21 and SA22 through minimum tillage to improve soil aggregate stability that enhances nutrient retention and reduces soil erosion thereby contributing to soil fertility and mediates air permeability, water infiltration, and nutrient cycling. The purpose of the research is to license and commercialize the two hybrids that will be launched this summer through roadside, community demos by cooperatives in eight (8) provincial districts to train seed producers, small scale farmers of maize obtain high yields and food security to overcome hunger, food insecurities, food inflation and poverty reduction amongst the rural in Zambia and the region. To become a certified seed produce in your area this coming agricultural farming season do contact us on seed.producers@schweizeragriculture.co.zm