A Zambian Youth popularly known as the radical Farmer has implored youths to think outside the box in trying to earn a leaving. He was speaking when PELUM Zambia organized a field tour to his organic farm where they invited the media and government officials. The Radical farmer whose real names are Abel Hangoma said it is high time youths moved away from thinking about only getting a white collar job because the current situation is not favoring the youths in finding jobs.Being a graduate of the University of Zambia in Computer engineering saw the need for him to explore other ways of making a leaving and thus he came up with an organic farm. The farm located in the hills of Chikankata is sitting on 3.5 hectors of land and is known as “ORGANIC FARM 7”.
The farm which has been operational for less than two years boasts of a wide variety of natural herbs and seed lings for exotic herbs like lemon grass, Lavenda and plants such as Oranges, Lemons, Grapes Mangoes and Bananas just to mention a few. The farm also houses an essential oils processing plant with a bottle going for as much as K300. The youth has also employed 7 people from around the area who help around the farm with planting plants and also tending to the plants.
Also speaking to the media was the Radical farmers wife Ellen Siangwenya , who explained that the market for their produce is in Lusaka. She said they sale their produce at Downtown every week in Lusaka. She also stated that organizations such as Musika have helped in linking them to clients.
“Though we sale in Lusaka town, sometimes we do receive clients who travel to come and buy the seedlings and herbs. They also come to get help in how they can get into organic farming”.
She further said the organic farm still faces challenge of water as the water is not enough despite them having a reservoir pond.
PELUM Zambia also took the media to another farm owned by Mr. Sebastian. This farm is also an organic farm and holding the unofficial record of harvesting 16 metric tons of maize per square hector. This farm is also big on research on how to improve the traditional farming ways in relation to organic farming. Thus they offer space for people to be trained in organic farming and the benefits it brings. This method of farming has been known to be expensive and for the very elite farmers but these farmers are proving that with the right motivation and direction anyone can venture into Organic farming without depending on chemicals for plant growth and harvesting.
