Field Visit # 1 – Chanyanya, Kafue District.

Paprika – Training on Harvesting and Quality Control

On May 31^st. I had the opportunity to make my first field visit. I traveled with an Extension Officer from ASNAPP-Zambia to the village of Chanyanya on the banks of the Kafue River. There we met with representatives from two farmers groups who are engaged in the cultivation of Paprika, The Chanyanya Farmers group, which has 61 members, and the Katuya Cumbele Women’s Group (Which roughly translates to “Lets Go!” Women’s Group, I am told), with 12 members.

Chanyanya, is on the banks of the Kafue River, roughly 70 km south of Lusaka near the town of Kafue. The river is a great resource of fish, and is the village’s main industry, and the source of many of it’s problems. Many youth, flock to the fishing boats instead of going to school. Either they can’t afford school, or they want to make a buck fishing. This is leads to a very high illiteracy rate. The fishing industry also brings in many outsiders who wish to buy and sell their fish. Most of the market selling is done by women, who I am told also sell themselves along side their fish to visiting fishermen and fish merchants. This prostitution has lead to a very high rate of HIV/AIDS in the area. Efforts are being made to encourage agriculture, and further, the cultivation of certain cash crops along side staple crops, like Paprika, to enable the people of the area to increase their income from agriculture, and become less dependant on fishing.

The purpose of this visit was to gauge how the farmers who had joined onto the paprika program were doing as we are in the midst of the harvest season, giver a refresher on when to harvest the paprika and how to grade, and too see who has started planning/preparations for the next planting before the next rainy season begins. (October/November).

The session was a participatory session, which enabled the farmers to voice their concerns, as well as learn from one another about best practices. Some of the major problems that limited the paprika production from this past year were initially a lack of water to start seedlings, and then when the rains did come, too much rain. Since Chanyanya is on the Kafue Rivers flood plains, the soil is quick to become water logged, which lead to flooded fields and drowned seedlings. Some other problems were also identified, which seemed to stem from farmer negligence.

Also assessed was the number of farmers who were planning on growing paprika again in the next season, and more specifically who were planning on growing irrigated paprika (irrigated through the use of a treadle pump). Currently 11 farmers in the area have treadle pumps through this paprika project. Most of them still have not paid for their pumps, as there was a payment arrangement that was dependant on the paprika crop. However since the crop has failed in the area for two years running, the payments were never made.

Some conclusions that were drawn from the discussions were that the farmers are still not taking Paprika serious as a crop but are willing to try it out. Which is very understandable, as they can’t feed their families with paprika. They are also using the treadle pumps for cultivation of other vegetable crops, and neglecting the paprika. This was not an encouraging finding. Farmers were asked to show their commitment to Paprika, by starting the preparations of their seedling nurseries, or their treadle pumps will be redistributed, as there are other areas where farmers are successfully growing paprika, and require treadle pumps. A follow up visit was scheduled in a couple weeks time to see what progress has been made.

ASNAPP is pushing the growing of paprika, because there is a market for it, and prices are very good, especially when compared to the maize or cotton (the other crops the other crops grown for market in the area). Growing Paprika as their main crop, and maize as their secondary crop (only enough for their own consumption) would mean increased income for the farmers leading to all around well being.

For me, this was a very fascinating experience. During training, we spent a lot of time doing case studies where we examined and practised participatory techniques. I was able to see the techniques in action, and also see some of the real problems that come out during these sorts of sessions. I did not actively participate in the session, I was able to sit and observe aided by the local Community Development Officer for interpretation/translation.

One thing that I found surprising, is that the farmers were so quick to try to find someone else or something to blame for the failure of their crop,(like the lead farmer for not teaching them, too much rain, too little rain, ASNAPP for not monitoring) rather than try and take some responsibility for themselves (insufficient weeding, not buying fertilizer, not controlling pests, contact farmers not reporting to ASNAPP). I always thought that trying to transfer blame for failure was a Western attitude, but I guess it’s pretty universal. I should also add that I had a very limited view of this village as it was my first time there, and I only spent a few hours there. I hope to return to this village to what else is going on there apart from the illiteracy, HIV/AIDS, and failing paprika, hopefully something positive.