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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

I attempted abortion with a razor- Agnes

DOREEN NAWA, Itezhi tezhi
FOR fear of facing her father for the second time with the news that she was pregnant yet again out of wedlock, Agnes Kanandwe 20, decided to abort using a razor blade.
For Agnes the only logical option was aborting than facing the wrath of her father to discuss the pregnancy when the man responsible had denied responsibility.
Agnes had cause to fear her father because three years earlier, she was pregnant for another man.
“When I was pregnant with my first child, my father was livid. He called me all sorts of derogatory names imaginable. He threatened that he would kill me if I ever got pregnant in his house again, and I knew he meant it because my father doesn’t joke,” she said.
At 20 weeks into the pregnancy, Agnes of Iyanda area in Itezhi tezhi district took up the challenge of procuring a self-induced abortion using a razor blade.
One cannot imagine what was going on in Agnes mind and where she got the courage to terminate her pregnancy using a razor blade.
However, thanks to the prompt response from medical personnel at Itezhi tezhi District Hospital in saving Agnes’s life and that of her unborn child.
Agnes said she had no choice but to terminate the pregnancy by whatever means because she scared her father would kill her once he learnt about her being pregnant for a second time.
Agnes explained that when she was two months pregnant with her second pregnancy, she told her boyfriend who denied the responsibility.
This was a dicey situation for Agnes after the traumatic experience she went through during her son who is now two years old. It was because of the mental anguish and threats of physical abuse that Agnes decided she could not keep the second pregnancy.
On an unknown date in February 2016 and when her pregnancy was 20 weeks old, Agnes isolated herself in a thatched-house at her parents’ home; she cut open up her tummy at the bottom-right using one of the razor blade.
“From the time my boyfriend denied responsibility, I made a decision that I could not keep the baby. This was painful for me because even the father to my first son also denied responsibility. I then decided to find ways terminating the second pregnancy.
As I sat alone, I remembered that I had some razor blades somewhere in my room. I then took one which I used to open up my tummy so that the foetus can come out. I was so scared, ashamed and confused; I knew what I was doing was wrong but all I wanted was to preserve my relations with my family,” she said.
But Agnes’s mission failed because she was rushed to Itezhi tezhi District Hospital where she was sutured after being hospitalised for 10 days.
“I was kept in the hospital for 10 days because the police wanted to arrest me for attempted abortion. I am so grateful to the doctor in-charge of the hospital and his wife, who is also a doctor who defended me by ensuring that I was not arrested but only counseled,” she says.
Although abortion in Zambia is legal on medical and social grounds, most women and girls resort to illegal means because services are inaccessible and unacceptable mainly because of religious beliefs and the negative perceptions by society in relation to abortions.
Most girls resort to illegal means of terminating pregnancies for fear of being expelled from school and their unwillingness to reveal a secret relationship.
For Agnes, the decision to abort was primarily determined by the reaction of the boyfriend and his unwillingness to accept paternity and the associated financial implications.
Agnes dropped out of school in Grade Seven because her parents could not afford to pay for her educational requirements after she qualified to grade eight.
Hospital senior resident medical officer Crispin Bobwa says Agnes was brought to the hospital by her mother as an emergency case of attempted abortion.
“Agnes was brought to the hospital with her intestines exposed. This was after an attempted abortion at home. Her condition was stable because she didn’t cut any of her intestines and didn’t bleed that much because of tummy-fat. We counselled her and gave her options either to keep the pregnancy or undergo a safe abortion at the hospital which is legal in Zambia.
After the counselling, she chose to keep the pregnancy for fear of being arrested once she was discharged from the hospital. But despite her decision to keep the pregnancy and while in hospital, the police were still pursuing her for attempted abort. That is how we intervened as a hospital to explain the consequences of what they intended to do with the young lady,” Dr Bobwa said.
Dr Bobwa says Agnes case was one of the many emergency cases that he has attended to during his nine years of service at the hospital.
“One a monthly basis, we have over 10 cases of failed self-induced abortion cases. This is after the victims attempt to abort and later come to the hospital with complications,” he said.
Dr Bobwa said most reasons given by those seeking to abort are often far more complex than simply not intending to become pregnant. We have discovered that the decision to have an abortion is usually motivated by more than one factor.
He said while improved contraceptive use like Jadelle, Depo-Provera and pills can help reduce unintended pregnancy and abortion, some abortions will remain difficult to prevent hence the need for available access to the service once requested.
“Some abortions will remain difficult to prevent because of women’s and girl’s ability to determine and control all circumstances of their lives,” Dr Bobwa said.
According to health experts, adolescents face higher reproductive risks than older women.
In Zambia, pregnancies are deemed to be a common occurrence amongst the adolescents, with an estimated two-thirds of unwanted pregnancies ending in unsafe abortions. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON MARCH 31, 2016. Here is the LINK: https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=77114

Zambeef’s $40m Zampalm Estate to benefit locals

DOREEN NAWA, Lusaka
GLOBAL prices for agricultural commodities have risen dramatically in recent years, making agriculture an attractive investment once again.
This, coupled with improvements in the overall business climate in Zambia and Africa as a whole, has seen a resurgence of large scale investment in agriculture on the continent.
Such investment has the potential to create jobs and raise rural incomes, particularly by promoting uptake of improved production techniques and greater use of inputs.
Whether that potential is realised, however, depends largely on the extent to which commercial buyers and Zambia’s smallholder farmers, who dominate the landscape, can discover mutually beneficial ways to work together.
Many factors limit the ability of smallholder farmers to boost their productivity and make the transition from subsistence farming to market-oriented production.
They commonly lack security of tenure over the land they farm, restricting the investments they are willing or able to make in improving the land.
They also typically lack access to productivity enhancing inputs such as improved seed, fertilisers, water and information or to the credit needed to finance investment in these inputs.
As a result, smallholder farmers are unable to deliver the volume and quality of produce that commercial buyers, retailers, processors and other agribusiness firms require, which in turn limits the development of markets for agricultural produce.
Out-grower schemes are one possible way to overcome these obstacles while securing mutual benefit for all stakeholders involved.
Recently, President Lungu announced that Government will engage the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and other stakeholders to explore prospects of an out-grower scheme at Zambeef’s US$40 million Zampalm Estate in Chief Kopa’s area in Mpika district.
In this project 5,000 out-growers will be incorporated in the Napalm Estates in Chief Kopa’s area and another 8,000 within Mpika district to provide the company with palms for the production of edible oil and other by-products.
Speaking when he toured the over 2,000 hectare plantation recently, President Lungu said his government will ensure that the out grower schemes kick off soon to benefit the local people.
The President said Zambia Sugar Plc will be consulted so that it can provide advice on how it has grown the out grower scheme over the years.
And Chief Kopa thanked Government for delivering development to his area.
“Taking development to rural areas is one thing we have longed for, and the coming of the Palm Plantation here is a dream come true. We appreciate this investment,” Chief Kopa says.
And Zambeef joint chief executive officer Francis Grogan said the company has already spent US$21 million to develop the estate which will have a huge impact on the locals once fully operational.
“The Zampalm project currently has some 370,900 palms planted in the main plantation with another 39,000 seedlings in the main and pre- nursery,” he said.
He said at current prices, Zampalm could generate more than US$170 million in revenue over the next decade.
Mr Grogan said the Zampalm out growers’ scheme will contribute to the substitution of the 70,000 tonnes of edible oil currently imported into the country every year, saving around US $70 million in foreign exchange outflows annually.
He said the project will require a further US$24 million investment over the next five years.
“Over 180 permanent jobs have been created and 400 seasonal jobs and more to come,” Mr Grogan said.
Out grower schemes bring together four elements namely a central facility surrounded by growers who produce on their own land under contract, and the provision of inputs and technical assistance to growers.
The rest are that out-grower schemes guarantees to purchase the growers’ crop subject to meeting predefined standards, and growers typically receiving a pre agreed percentage of the final sales price of their product, thus leaving them still fully exposed to price risk.
Lumuno Organic farms proprietor Khama Mbewe says one of the challenges that small holder farmers face in Zambia and Africa as a whole is how to access funds and getting to proper market for their produce due to poor road infrastructure and other transportation challenges.
“Most of the feeder roads in rural areas are in a deplorable state and this is one of the challenges that smallholder farmers face. Small holder farmers are a vital component in Zambia’s food production. So with all these challenges, out grower schemes become handy,” says Mr Mbewe.
Giving an example of his farm, Mr Mbewe said as a result of a Strategic Partnership Grant from USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub, new equipment was installed at Lumuno Organic Farms, Lumuno, a locally-owned factory that produces condiment sauces in Zambia.
“Benefits of out-grower schemes are a lot both to the buyers like us and the smallholder farmers. Like the USAID grant, the grant is upgrading the current chili processing line and establishing an out grower arrangement to boost production capacity from 9,000 to 15,000 bottles of chili sauce per month,” Mr Mbewe says.
As part of the out grower scheme, Lumuno will guarantee an end market to 300 smallholder farmers to supply chili pods, onions, and garlic to Lumuno and to receive special training; 60 farmers have been trained already.
The precision of the filling machine has increased efficiency while the capping machine has enhanced food safety and hygiene.
Increased production is enabling Lumuno to supply to supermarkets and other chain stores.
Mr Mbewe says despite the challenges that Zambia and Africa may be facing, the good news is that there is already a ready market and high demand for agricultural produce due to the ever increasing population.
“Agriculture is one of the best business opportunities in the world because food never goes out of fashion. People must eat food every day. This fact puts Zambia’s small holder farmers at an advantage to partner with commercial farmers and produce enough food for export,” Mr Mbewe says.
“It’s not just the food industry that depends on agriculture. Several other industries, especially the manufacturing and processing industries, depend on agriculture for a wide range of raw materials,” says Mr Mbewe.
Mr Mbewe says as Zambia’s economies continue to grow, the demand for raw materials will surely increase and create more interesting opportunities for agriculture as a business in the country.
“Agriculture as a business in Zambia has suffered through the years because of its poor yields and crude farm practices. Most of the crops cultivated on the continent produce very little and are often very prone to pests, diseases and drought,” Mr Mbewe said.
To help grow their farming activities into a viable business, rural and small holder farmers need access to finance, which is often a barrier to success for most small holder farmers who wish to take farming as a business.
In Zambia like many other developing countries, accessing financial services is difficult for anyone, due to the unfavourable terms needed by banks and lending agencies.
However, for smallholder farmers who often own less collateral, such as land, accessing capital can be even more challenging.
One pathway to explore such challenges is through the out-grower schemes. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON MARCH 20, 2016

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Zambia’s future lies in agriculture-President Lungu

Chief Chimuka and Chief Liteta (c) give gifts to President Lungu at the dam launch
DOREEN NAWA, Chisamba
PRESIDENT Lungu says Zambia’s future lies in agriculture and his administration is determined to pursue an agriculture-led economy through the rolling out of irrigation schemes and other innovations country-wide.
Speaking during the launch of the construction of the US$28 million Mwomboshi Irrigation Dam in Chisamba yesterday, President Lungu reiterated his commitment to diversifying the agriculture sector.
“The construction of this dam gives a practical expression to my Government’s resolve to making agriculture at the centre of our economy. Irrigation farming is an act of diversifying the sector away from rain-fed agriculture,” President Lungu said.
He said Government will upscale such in other provinces like Eastern and Western.
Currently, the construction of dams is under way in Lusitu, Chirundu and Musakashi in Mufulira districts.
“We aim to have over 75,000 hectares by 2030. To achieve this, Government will ensure adequate funds for irrigation development annually. Currently, K56.7 million has been set aside for irrigation in the 2016 national budget,” he said.
The President said once completed, Mwomboshi Dam will provide an opportunity for increased food production and poverty reduction.
And the President has called on the people of Mwomboshi to ensure conservation of forest cover around the dam and other rivers to protect the environment and ecosystems.
“Thank you to our hard-working farmers here. Let’s rise to the challenge of boosting agricultural production and venture into diversified agriculture. The construction period of the dam is 30 months but I would be glad if it can be done in 18 months,” he said.
President Lungu thanked other co-operating partners for the support, adding that he wants agriculture to be the main player in the country’s economy.
He said the dam is an answer to the changing weather Zambia is facing, which has affected some southern parts of the country.
And President Lungu directed ministers of Agriculture Given Lubinda, and Fisheries and Livestock Greyford Monde to devise short-term strategies aimed at increasing food production to feed not only Zambia but the region.
“We will encourage both commercial and small-scale farmers to diversify. We have the potential to produce enough food. To this effect, I wish to state that Government will only import maize as the last resort. It is encouraging to see the country receiving good rains in February, it’s all God’s doing. All we can do is to do our best and leave the rest to God,” he said.
He said the Patriotic Front administration will put in place a comprehensive support irrigation scheme in Mwomboshi to include infrastructure like roads to facilitate market access, electricity, primary and secondary schools.
He said sustained investment in commercial agriculture for small-scale farmers is one of the surest ways to eradicate poverty.
The irrigation scheme is the largest in the country and will cater for over 10,000 farmers in Central, Southern and Copperbelt provinces.
And Mr Lubinda said: “The dam will open up 6,000 hectares for irrigation. We are also opening two more schemes for irrigation in the country. Lusitu in Chirundu and Musakashi in  Mufulira. Mwomboshi will be the largest dam in Zambia’s history used for irrigation.
He said this year alone, over 8,000 hectares of land will be opened up for agriculture.
And 230 houses of people, who were displaced by the construction of the dam, are nearing complication.
Mr Lubinda said all people in the catchment area will be given land of one hectare within the irrigation scheme and another outside.
He also said that the contractors, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company Limited of China, will employ local people and the management of the scheme will be in the hands of farmers.
He said the project will encourage crop diversification.
“Electricity and roads are being brought to this area to improve lives. We want to make farming a business,” he said
And Central Province minister Davis Chisopa said the province is happy to host President Lungu.
The dam’s capacity will be 65 million cubic litres of water to irrigate 6,000 farmers.
Mr Chisopa said 10 commercial farmers have expressed interest in using water.
“It will create employment too. We salute you Mr President for this project and many others. It is our prayer to God that he grants you good health for continuity of such development projects,” he said.
And World Bank country manager Ina Ruthenberg said the project is significant because it will be central and will cater for Central, Southern and Copperbelt provinces. PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 2, 2016 EDITION