In February 2024, Zambia’s government declared a national emergency due to the region’s worst drought in 40 years. The president called for international support to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis. Over the last few decades, climate change has caused erratic weather and prolonged dry spells in Zambia. The most recent drought has left 6.6 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Farmers in Zambia’s Western Province used to rely on the reliability of the environment to grow enough crops to consume and sell. 78% of the region lives on less than $2 per day, and most need to harvest enough food to last through the lean season, a period of food shortages before the next harvest. Today, over 43% of all corn planted has been destroyed, forcing many farmers and their families to go to bed hungry.
Action Against Hunger stepped in with an innovative solution: drought-resistant agriculture. The climate resiliency program is designed to mitigate and prepare for the impact of climate change over the next ten years. In the Western Province, farmers are equipped with the tools, training, and seeds they need to succeed. Last year, they were given black-eyed-peas, which are protein-rich and can grow in dry conditions.
Our teams work alongside the community to facilitate the planting and harvesting of black-eyed peas, build awareness about nutrition, provide in-depth trainings, connect farmers to local markets, and more.
For farmers in Zambia, connecting to local markets can save livelihoods and lives. 66-year-old Sitwala was facing hard times — and a deadly drought — when he decided to participate in Action Against Hunger’s new climate-resilient initiative.
64-year-old Mrs. Makina is a constant inspiration for people across the Western Province. She has built her own successful agriculture business and overseen her farm for 50 years. But the widespread drought in Zambia has threatened Mrs. Makina’s livelihood. She fears for her family’s wellbeing and anticipates a deadly hunger crisis. That’s why she’s partnering with Action Against Hunger to crow drought-resistant black-eyed peas.
Clare and her three sisters are facing serious drought. Women bear the brunt of the crisis. Now, she’s one of 1,280 other farmers who enrolled in Action Against Hunger’s black-eyed pea project. They are planting drought-resistant crops in an effort to fight both climate change and gender inequality.
Our Communications Associate Kenneal Patterson traveled to Zambia in March to report from the ground. While she was there, she had the opportunity to connect with the Senanga community and learn about their stories.
For years, 34-year-old Memory’s harvest—maize, rice, and garden vegetables—has supported her family of 12. But this year’s drought, recently declared a national disaster, has threatened the livelihoods of Memory and one million other families across Zambia. Luckily, Memory can weather the storm—with the help of black-eyed peas.
Our teams work closely with communities in Zambia to build resilience and sustainability. We knew that if we helped people identify their nutrition priorities and strengthen food security, they would begin to invest in community-driven outcomes. Learn more from Mary Khozi, our Country Director for Zambia.
Join our community of supporters passionate about ending hunger in Zambia and beyond.
