Zambian smallholder farmers welcome climate-smart beans-beneficial insects-fruit trees synergy

Zambian smallholder farmers are set to benefit from the BRAINS project, which integrates beans, bees, and fruit trees to address agricultural challenges. This climate-smart initiative will boost productivity, diversify incomes, and enhance resilience to climate change through sustainable practices and strategic partnerships.

Belinda Kamwanga and her husband, residing in the peaceful countryside of Chongwe District, east of Lusaka, Zambia, have been doing subsistence farming for years, growing beans and keeping bees. However, their harvests have been very modest, averaging one bag of beans and five liters of honey per season.  Lack of technical expertise has limited their potential for commercial agriculture, as they acknowledge missing the key knowledge needed to manage the complexities of farming and beekeeping.

A short distance away, Alice Musungilo’s farming journey has been filled with frustration. Her once-thriving 15 avocado trees suddenly stopped producing, leaving her confused and disheartened. After much disappointment, she was forced to cut them down, never understanding the cause. This failure dampened her passion for this type of farming, leading her to lose interest in pursuing it further.