. Ms Nyendwa

By NATASHA MHANGO –
SOME young people perceive agriculture as a profession of intense labour, not profitable and unable to support their livelihood compared to what white collar jobs offer.
They think agriculture would not afford them to enjoy the pleasures of owning a beautiful home, fast cars, the latest gadgets and mobile phones like what their colleagues in white collar jobs have access to.
When one talks about agriculture or farming, in the minds of young people, they think of someone far down in a village living in a shack, who wakes up early every morning to go and dig, coming back home at sunset.
These and many other factors have caused many young people not to venture into agriculture which has got various facets which include livestock and fish farming.
Moreover, the Government is encouraging farmers to diversify from the traditional maize cultivation to other forms of agriculture like fish farming.
Responding to this call is Kasazi Nyendwa, founder and managing director of the Kafue Women’s Fish Processing Association (KWFPA) who could not wait to find a white collar job despite having a degree in marketing from the University of Namibia.
Ms Nyendwa, who is 32 years old, believes agriculture has the potential to create wealth because food is a necessity and not a luxury; and so the market will always be guaranteed.
“It is time that youth in Zambia stopped waiting for white collar jobs to earn an income and agriculture is one of the best places to start. Food is a necessity and not a luxury; and so a market will always be guaranteed, she says
KWFPA is an association of women who already have established businesses in fish trade and also includes women who sell fish in the market places as a business.
The association started with 10 women in June 2014. Currently, KWFPA’s source of fish is the Kafue River as well as the Kariba dam.
The association adds value to the fish by baking fish cakes, sausages and even crackers, which they market through mobile sales to supermarkets, schools and restaurants around Kafue and parts of Lusaka.
By virtue of her business, Ms Nyendwa has established a company called Lutuno Enterprises  this is the company that does the actual processing of the fish for KWFPA.
But like all new beginnings, Ms Nyendwa’s journey to grow KWFPA into a vibrant fish processing association has been met with a number of challenges.
One challenge stems from the preferences of the Zambian market.
“When you’re processing fish, you look for a type that is fleshy. So we started with bubble fish. But …most people don’t eat it because of religious reasons while other people just don’t like it.
So we thought of another alternative which is the bottle fish from the Kariba…which women there are struggling to sell because it is another breed of fish that Zambians don’t like very much,” she says  KWFPA processes the bottle fish into a tasty blend and use it to make their sausages and burgers.
Local customers are particular about their fish and hence attention is paid to ensuring that their clientele enjoy the processed fish products.
Another challenge that Ms Nyendwa is facing is the membership of the KWFPA.
Currently, the association can only speak of 12 reliable consistent members.
Some have come and gone thus their membership cannot be counted in the association.
“Most women who join the association don’t have the patience to wait for their business to grow. They expect things to happen instantly. But they are some women who have stuck with the association,” she says.
At the end of the day, she would like to see more women involved in fish farming and not solely in fish trading.
Ms Nyendwa admits that it is a capital intensive business to venture in but that with sufficient knowledge and commitment, women can thrive in the fish industry.
Despite the challenges, Ms Nyendwa is determined to make the business grow because has realised the potential for economic benefits of engaging in the fish industry.
However what is more encouraging to notes is that she is a youth that is striving to make a living through agriculture.
Lack of capital and information has hindered women who live in Kafue near the riverside from venturing into fish farming using cages.
Ms Nyendwa, however, appealed to the government to help with imparting knowledge to women in the fish industry.
Ms Nyendwa grew up in Kafue town where fish trading is a leading economic activity because of the Kafue River.
She studied Marketing at the University of Namibia and said she stems from a family of business minded people.
Her inspiration to venture into fish trading and processing, in particular, came through a trade event she attended in Uganda at which she witnessed how women there are processing fish.
Meanwhile, Zambia recently hosted the 2015 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Lusaka.
The conference was attended by over 500 delegates from over 40 countries and was facilitated by the AGRF implementing partner, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
KWFPA was among the small holder farmers that exhibited the annual conference.
The AGRF is held annually to popularize the developments and outcomes of smaller agricultural events; and to enhance feedback from agriculture and agribusiness practitioners across Africa.
It brings together critical stakeholders including African heads of states, ministers, farmers, scientists and private agribusiness firms, among others; to discuss and develop concrete plans in agricultural investment and achieving the green revolution in Africa.
This year, the conference was held under the theme “Walking the Talk on Youth and Women: Bringing Inclusive Agricultural Markets to Life” and was officiated by the Republican Vice President, Inonge Wina.
In her opening address to the conference, Ms Wina said the theme was appropriate as Africa is grappling with the problem between the male and female gender.
“For us in Zambia, the issue of making sure that women and youth take part in accessing key resources is of utmost importance as we believe that there can be no meaningful developments we do not involve women and the youth who in fact are the majority statistically,” Ms. Wina said.
Among other potential areas for agricultural investment in Zambia, the Vice-President highlighted fish production, processing and marketing.
It was, therefore, encouraging to see a small but emerging organisation like KWFPA exhibiting at the 2015 AGRF.
Well, with Ms Nyendwa’s experience, will youths continue to think agriculture would not afford them to enjoy the pleasures of owning a beautiful home, fast cars, the latest gadgets and mobile phones like what their colleagues in white collar jobs have access to? -NAIS