Up to 6,000 smallholder farmers are set to supply mango to a new processing plant being built on the shores of Lake Malawi, in an exciting new public-private partnership for Self Help Africa. The initiative, which sees Self Help Africa recruiting, training and supporting the organisational development of smallholder out-growers across Malawi’s Central Region, is projected to earn each farmer up to $600 per annum from the sale of fruit.
Read MoreNorthern Province Zambia
Self Help Africa commenced work late last year on a major new development programme designed to improve the livelihoods of 16,000 households in Zambia’s remote Northern Province. The Irish Aid funded project will establish an integrated livelihood programme that addresses agricultural production, crop diversification, production and marketing, as well as health and nutrition.
Read MoreBeer & Barley
Beer and hard work don’t often go hand in hand, but for Ethiopian Almaz Tadsaa they are the essential ingredients of her farming success.A small-scale farmer close to Galema mountain in Southern Ethiopia, Almaz is expecting to sell four and a half tonnes of malt barley, when she harvests her crops this Autumn. She is hoping to earn more than €1,000 from the transaction – a record for this hard-working mother of four.
Read MoreAn Elephant’s Tale
25 year old Lennart and Patuma Kamwesa (22) smile when they think about the unusual origins of the ‘chilli club’ that they are members of in their small village of Kalimwi in Balaka, Malawi.
Read MoreWorking with schools
Self Help Africa is involved in an innovative new programme that is leading the promotion and implementation of global citizenship education in Ireland, on behalf of the Irish Government. A new programme for post-primary schools across Ireland, ‘WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS) is tasked with increasing the number, spread and mix of schools engaging with quality development education activities.
Read MoreImpact in Kenya (read more)
Findings from our projects indicate increases in production of up to 170% for small-holder famers with consequent increases in household income from sales. Planting approximately ¼ acre of amaranth is estimated to cost the farmers around KES 5,000. (£36). This plot can yield more than 250 kg of amaranth valued … Read More
Read MoreImpact in Uganda (read more)
Evidence from previous SHA projects shows that farmers supported to grow tomatoes can earn an average of USh 450,000 (£110) per season. For groundnut seed producers (with initial support of 20 kg) the return can be USh 448,000 (£107) in one year. In addition, Our work in Kamuli shows a … Read More
Read MoreThink Africa @ Electric Picnic
Concert goers at one of the Summer’s biggest rock festivals got to ‘Think Africa’, when they took part in a novel video project hosted by Self Help Africa at Ireland’s Electric Picnic. Over 120 festival fans took part in the project, while thousands more viewed the resulting video clip within a week of it being posted on YouTube.
Read MoreThe bottom line
the bottom line, A letter from our CEO As we approach the 30th anniversary of the foundation of Self Help Africa by some remarkably visionary people, I am happy to be able to report that 2013 has been our most successful ever year. Our programmes are reaching more families across … Read More
Read MoreFarming as a business (read more)
Farming as a Business At the core of our approach to rural enterprise development is support to farmer-led organisations, including cooperatives and producer groups to create profitable business. Self Help Africa provides training so that smallholder farmers have a better understanding of costs and markets and assist them to work … Read More
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