In the heart of Senanga district in Western Province, amidst a challenging crop failure, one couple stands out not just for their resilience, but also for their dedication to cultivating a dignified life.
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Muisiya from the Lukanda Community Welfare Assistance Committee (CWAC), whose love for each other and their land has transformed adversity into opportunity.
In the face of crop failure exacerbated by drought, now declared a national disaster and emergency, the couple has embraced the Government’s Food Security Pack (FSP) Programme, a lifeline aimed at bolstering agricultural efforts among vulnerable but viable farmers, especially in such dire times.
Casting aside a mindset of self-defeat and low self-esteem, the couple are ingeniously utilizing wetlands to grow maize, and a variety of vegetables, a strategic move to ensure continuity and sustainability in their farming despite the challenging climatic conditions.
Their efforts have however not gone unnoticed. The government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has listed the couple under the Emergency Wetlands Cropping Programme, earmarked to benefit 42,500 farmer households in Western Province.
Mrs. Patricia Muyamwa, Director for Community Development, visited their fields, encouraged and commended their initiative and perseverance and acknowledged the couple’s contribution in complementing governmental initiatives to uplift the lives of the impoverished and vulnerable.
Encouraged by the visit, Mrs. Muyamwa urged the couple to further capitalize on the resources provided through various empowerment programmes aimed at enhancing crop production, while emphasizing government’s unwavering commitment to identifying and supporting industrious community members like them to enhance both domestic and national food security.
For Mr and Mrs Muisiya, their journey is not just about survival but about thriving against the odds, seizing available opportunities and embodying the spirit of resilience and community support that defines and builds not only Senanga but the country’s agricultural landscape.
As they continue to nurture their crops and love for each other, Mr and Mrs Muisiya’s story serves as a beacon of hope and determination for their community and beyond.
