Category: Agriculture

Beekeeping has been one of the long-standing livelihood activities of New Renato Community Society (NRCS), led by Mr. Thomas Kafula. Over the years, the initiative has given community members beekeeping knowledge and skills, promoting sustainable income, environmental conservation and better household livelihoods. With support from partners, the project has expanded with modern beehives, protective equipment, and honey production and marketing.

Beekeeping as a pilot project

As part of our agriculture pillar, NRCS has developed beekeeping as a pilot project to promote sustainable livelihoods and improve income opportunities for local farmers. The project teaches modern beekeeping, honey production, harvesting and hive management.

More than 1,000 local farmers have been trained in beekeeping, enabling them to diversify their farming and earn additional income from honey and other bee products. Beekeeping also contributes to food security, environmental conservation and the pollination of crops.

Keep the bees, so that even when you grow very old, they will still work for you.

Thomas C. Kafula, beekeeping trainer

Honey production and processing

NRCS supports the collection and processing of raw honey into a cleaner, higher-value product. The honey is filtered and processed before being packaged for consumers. Proper processing and packaging maintain the natural quality of honey while improving its presentation and market value.

Honey production gives farmers an additional income and creates opportunities along the value chain, including collection, processing, packaging, transport, marketing and sales. Through the honey project, NRCS aims to build a sustainable honey value chain that benefits local farmers and promotes self-reliance.

Agriculture is one of the core pillars of New Renato Community Society (NRCS) because it plays a vital role in improving food security, nutrition and household incomes. In Zambia, and especially here in Kashitu, maize is the staple food, and its successful production depends on access to quality agricultural inputs, particularly fertiliser.

Our farming projects

We are growing tomatoes, vegetables and sweet potatoes to support sustainable school feeding programmes, improve child nutrition and create income-generating opportunities for families in our community, while promoting affordable and sustainable farming practices.

New technology in agriculture

Because of the lack of fertiliser, Friends of New Renato (Czech Republic), through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, have introduced a new method to produce fertiliser from human urine and manure. The project is called “Integrated Sustainable Circular Sanitation-Fertilizer Management System Pilot for Kashitu”.

Agriculture remains one of the key pillars of our community development strategy. We integrate agricultural training with education, entrepreneurship and community empowerment, so that local people have the skills and resources to improve their living standards.

Poultry farming

NRCS also promotes poultry farming to improve food security, nutrition, income and self-reliance. The project raises chickens for eggs, with plans to expand. It supports our feeding programmes with nutritious food and serves as a practical learning platform in poultry management, feeding, disease prevention, hygiene and record keeping.