World Vision Zambia has expressed interest in empowering 45,000 farmers with entrepreneurship skills by 2021.
And Vision Fund Zambia has invested K68,000,000 in the entrepreneurship project, in line with the organisation’s focus on providing financial services to farmers to enable them to invest in their agri-businesses, as well as providing financial literacy training .
World Vision Zambia Project Manager Wilfred Mufwimbi said the project is meant to improve the lives of farmers in the country.
“We are investing in the entrepreneurship skills of farmers across the country, targeting 45,000 households by the year 2021 and we are encouraging them to invest in productive assets that will contribute to their wellbeing,” he said.
Mr Mufwimbi added that the organisation is going to work hand in hand with Vision Fund’s a micro-finance institution that supports farmers with access to credit for various business loans.
He further said that through the funds, farmers will be able to borrow and grow their business to guarantee sustainability, which is critical in strengthening as well as sustaining electricity demands
Meanwhile, World Vsion is working with over 50,000 households to promote savings groups across the country.
Mr Mufwimbi said the savings groups are helping communities in rural areas to venture into various businesses like owning a shop and poultry.
He added that the saving groups are also offering an opportunity for Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to connect households to the grid.
‘’Through savings, a number of households have opened businesses enterprises ranging from grocery shops to poultry farming which can be boosted if connected to the grid.
“This will also be beneficial to ZESCO Limited as they will see their clientele base increase with more resourceful households in rural areas,” he said
Mr Mufwimba said increased income will also help address household subsidies.