Zambia Youth Agripreneurs (ZYA) recently made a significant impact at the Chibwika Agricultural Show held on June 1, 2024, by showcasing their innovative agricultural practices and technologies. This event, hosted by His Royal Highness Chief Chibwika in Mwinilunga, North Western Province, brought together numerous stakeholders and farmers keen on exploring advancements in agriculture, particularly in the cassava value chain.
Chief Chibwika, driven by his passion for equipping his community with firsthand knowledge of new agricultural technologies, extended a formal invitation to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to participate in the show. IITA highlighted its cassava single-node technology, which ensures the rapid multiplication of clean and disease-free cassava planting materials through tissue culture techniques. This innovation was particularly well-received given the region’s focus on cassava cultivation, with Chief Chibwika encouraging farmers to adopt this technology to efficiently propagate improved cassava varieties and manage prevalent diseases.
ZYA, collaborating closely with IITA, showcased their expertise in cassava processing and utilization technologies. The youth-led demonstrations emphasized the use of simple machines to process freshly harvested cassava roots into intermediate products such as chips and flour. These processed products are more stable, easier to transport and store, and possess higher market value compared to raw tubers. Additionally, ZYA exhibited the versatility of cassava flour in producing a range of value-added products like bread, biscuits, scones, and crackers.
The participation of ZYA and IITA in the Chibwika Agricultural Show underscores their commitment to empowering local farmers with practical skills and knowledge. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and introducing innovative technologies, they are contributing significantly to enhancing food security and economic development in the region. The event also provided an opportunity for over 350 beneficiaries to learn and adopt new practices that could transform their farming activities and improve their livelihoods.