Becca Smith

Goals

• Learn about challenges, needs and aspirations of smallholder farmers related to their farms and homes

• Identify opportunities for improvement of existing solutions or for new solutions to improve farmers' livelihoods

• Document current crop storage behaviors of smallholder farmers and get feedback on existing crop storage technologies

Outcomes

• A number of interconnected challenges and needs of small-scale farmers in eastern Zambia were identified. Major themes were the desires for increased farm productivity (to increase business and profit), improved quality of life for farmers' families, and increased access to reliable and fair markets for crops.

• Market opportunities were identified for supplying fertilizer, labor-saving technologies, home construction materials and improved crop storage solutions to farmers at the times needed and with appropriate financing solutions. 

• Since the study, Zasaka (Good Nature Agro) has shifted its focus to supporting farmer production of high-value legume crops for seed and guaranteeing a market.

• Lessons were drawn from the introduction of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags in Zambia, and could guide those looking to increase access to other technologies desired by farmers.

Role

Project manager; Lead researcher
Collaborators: Tachmajal Corrales Sanchez, Emelia Banda, Lombiwe Mwanamonga, Justin Nkhoma, Kendra Leith

location

MIT D-Lab; Chipata, Zambia

timeframe

2015

process

The research study was planned in collaboration with partner/host organization Zasaka (now Good Nature Agro). In August and September 2015, in the Chipata and Lundazi districts of eastern Zambia, our five-person research team, including three Zambian researchers, conducted 88 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups (20 participants) with smallholder farmers and other stakeholders. During interviews, pictorial product sheets provided by Zasaka, showing items that they were selling or considering selling through their farmer network, were shared to discuss the most useful and most desired items for the farm and the home.

Early data synthesis by the research team and Zasaka took place in Chipata, and I conducted detailed content analysis using NVivo after interview recordings were transcribed. Findings were shared with Zasaka and a Practical Impact Alliance working group, and with a wider audience through a four-page D-Brief (linked below).