Champion Farmer Demonstrates the Benefits of Agroecology in Chirundu

Since its inception in 2025, the Community Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture Solutions (CISAS) project has brought transformative change to Machavika Village in Chirundu District. The project has showcased the potential of agroecological practices to boost productivity, enhance soil health, and improve household food security.

 

During the 2025/2026 farming season, Shelly Ngandu, a Champion Farmer from Machavika Village in Chirundu district achieved one of her highest harvests this season after adopting agroecological techniques such as potholing and the use of bokashi ‘an organic fertilizer’ made from locally available materials.

 

“This year, I harvested 11 oxcarts of Kuyuma sorghum and six oxcarts of Sima. I am also expecting about four canter loads of Loongo. Compared to previous years, this has been my biggest harvest,” Shelly shared.

 

She attributes her success to a combination of favorable rainfall and the consistent application of agroecological practices. “I did potholing and filled the holes with bokashi, which I made myself from local ingredients. The results have been very good,” she added.

 

The increased yields have allowed Shelly to reinvest in her farming. With the project funding support, she purchased a ripper and an ox, with plans to buy another ox after marketing part of her harvest. “The support helped me buy a ripper and an ox. I will get another ox once I sell some of my harvest. I want to intensify ripping because it will make my work more efficient.”

 

Beyond her own success, Shelly is an advocate for farmer-to-farmer learning; she currently mentors 11 follower farmers, teaching them how to produce and use bokashi. “When I trained the follower farmers, we made bokashi together and each took home a 50-kilogram bag to test on their fields. They compared areas where they applied it and areas where they did not. They also had good harvests, and many want to make their own bokashi next season.”

 

Mrs. Shelly also promotes ecological pest management. When armored crickets became a challenge in parts of Chirundu District, she used natural solutions like chili and Sodom Apple (locally known as ‘tutuntulwa’) instead of synthetic pesticides, achieving positive results.

 

Reflecting on the season, Shelly notes that the benefits of agroecology are evident both in her fields and at home. “There is enough food at home, and I am encouraged by what I have achieved this season. The practices are working, and other farmers can see the results for themselves.”