Under the project 'Mitigating the Twin Challenges of COVID-19 and Climate Change on Food and Nutrition Security', SEPA worked with a women's producer group in Kamwandi Village, Headman Itanda, Chief Mpidi, in Zambezi East. The group includes youth and households headed by persons with disabilities.
A drip irrigation system was established to allow year-round production of crops and vegetables for household food security and income. A borehole was drilled to reduce dependence on the Kabompo River, which is crocodile-infested; women and girls fetching water were especially at risk. Headman Itanda reported that lives had regularly been lost.
Challenges and lessons
Drilling proved difficult: three boreholes were dry before the fourth succeeded at about fifty metres. Equipment failures, costly transport to the remote site and prolonged drought added further challenges, but the community remained resilient.
Community involvement was essential in finding solutions. Review meetings with the District Commissioner's office, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Water Affairs and the local authority helped resolve the drilling problems. SEPA also used the Mind-Set Shift Tool to help participants stay open to new knowledge, and the project encouraged men and women to share responsibilities and decisions.