Schweizer Agriculture’s Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development (PARD) initiative is a comprehensive program that aims to support Zambian agriculture through various activities, in partnership with the government and local organizations. Six Technical Working Groups have been set up to focus on specific areas, including:
- Seed Multiplication, Landscaping, and Horticulture: This group focuses on improving agricultural productivity and sustainability through better seed selection, landscaping, and horticulture practices.
- Access to Finance: This group works to improve access to financial services for farmers and agricultural businesses, enabling them to invest in their operations and grow their enterprises.
- Access to Markets: This group aims to improve the connectivity between farmers and markets, ensuring that produce reaches consumers efficiently and effectively.
- Infrastructure and Capacity Building: This group focuses on building the infrastructure and capacity needed to support agricultural development, including roads, storage facilities, and training programs.
The leadership and board membership of these Technical Working Groups comprise representatives from government departments, cooperative membership, local community, and local NGOs, ensuring a collaborative approach. The goal is to achieve the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zambian government, specifically in the Chongwe district.