A mobile phone information service established by Self Help Africa in 2014 to provide timely information to rural poor farmers, has been used almost a quarter of a million times within its start. Launched in Malawi late last year, the ‘321’ voice activated service provides subscribers to the country’s largest mobile phone network with a suite of farm information services that they can access at the push of a button.
Read MoreChildren’s future motivates Emmanuel
A club foot that makes it difficult to farm the steep mountain slopes of Bukimbiri district in Uganda is just one of the obstacles that 54-year old Emmanuel Ngororano has had to overcome in his life.
But he has succeeded in producing enough to keep his family fed, although he struggles to afford the ever-increasing costs of sending his children to school.
Read MoreFarming for the family
Scovia and Gastone Ndisasirwa are amongst thousands of Ugandans whose lives are being transformed by a scheme supporting the development of fruit and vegetable gardens as a means of improving household nutrition.
Young parents of two girls, their garden now looks as if it could stock a supermarket vegetable counter – with cabbage, amaranthus, papaya and tomato growing alongside pumpkin and other produce.
Read MoreTraining proves fruitful for Anita
Having relied on her husband for money her entire married life, at the age of 49, Zambian Anita Sitatanga is finally enjoying a newfound financial independence thanks to her fruit.
Read MorePeace helps to bridge information gap
Just as mobile telephones have revolutionised the ways we communicate, phone technology is also playing a vital role in transforming the lives of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. For them, the ability to check market prices, or find out at the touch of a button about plant diseases, or when they should sow, is bridging an information gap that has hindered productivity in rural Africa, for generations.
Read MoreLike mother, like daughter
As the leader of of a farmer’s group, 50-year-old potato farmer Fulumina has a lot to be proud about. Despite this achievement, what she is most proud of is her daughter, Grace.
Read MoreA fruit to get passionate about
With a month to go before his first harvest, farmer Bashir Twinomwjuni is already a big fan of his new passion fruit plants. He has yet to harvest but with the fruit hanging heavy on the branches he is feeling optimistic.
Read More‘Ahead of the game’ on Sustainable Development Goals
Self Help Africa is ‘ahead of the game’ in its focus on smallholder farmers and promoting a ‘climate smart’ approach to agriculture, according to one of leading facilitators of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Read MoreFemale farmer leading by example
As the elected leader of her local farmers’ group, 38-year-old Samada Masanda embodies the change she says is happening across her community. ‘Before, parents here didn’t bother to educate girls. But now they’ve seen that women can be leaders, so they educate all their children.’
Read MoreYoung Ugandan farmer is a busy bee
24-year-old farmer Florence Turyahebwa from Kamwenge in Uganda has big plans for the future and they don’t require a husband.
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