The first day of the conference is spent discussing our progress in our placements and how we’re contributing to achieving VSO’s goal of securing the livelihoods of Zambia’s poor. We chat, listen to a speaker talking about markets and value chains and then we get onto the more gritty discussion of issues affecting the Programme Area Plan.
We all seem to agree on one thing - lack of resources . That includes anything from a lack of systems through to a lack of knowledge and information from markets right through to exports in Zambia.
Other countries like Kenya and South Africa seem to have done well in creating global markets for their farmers. Yet, Zambia, despite its economic growth in the last 5 years is still unable to attribute its growth to agriculture (one of it’s biggest sectors). Instead it appears to be relying on it’s single source, copper and unfortunately for many of the rural poor, the success of Zambian copper has not translated into food on the table.
After quite a depressing session, I think well is there any hope and then I think back to some of the projects back in Chipata and the success stories and that serves to remind me why I’m here.
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