Private Observer

From Barren Fields to Green Hope: Shibunji Farmers Lead Zambia’s Agroecology Revival

Shibunji, Zambia — Once a landscape of degraded and abandoned farmlands, Shibunji is fast emerging as a beacon of climate-smart agriculture in rural Zambia.

A growing number of smallholder farmers here are turning to agroecology a sustainable, nature-based approach to farming to restore soil health, build resilience, and reduce dependence on chemical inputs.

One of them is Hendrix Sambole, who bought his farm a year ago only to find the land barren and exhausted.“Many people had deserted this area because the soil was poor,” Mr. Sambole recalls. “But I decided to stay and try something different.”

That “something different” was agroecology farming that works with nature through organic manure, local seeds, crop diversification, and natural pest control. With support from the Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT), Mr. Sambole learned how to revive his soil without synthetic fertilizers.

“We have never used fertilizer at this farm,” he says proudly. “Only animal manure and organic materials. The soil is already improving, and in a few years, this land will be more fertile than those places where others moved to.”

Farming Smart

Unlike conventional agriculture that relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, agroecology promotes natural solutions that are healthier for the land, farmers, and consumers. In Shibunji, smallholders are blending age-old wisdom with modern ecological science to rejuvenate their fields.

A key practice is intercropping growing different crops together to improve soil fertility, increase biodiversity, and enhance nutrition. Mr. Sambole now produces a wide variety of crops, boosting both food security and household income.

“It’s not just about farming,” he says. “It’s about farming smart.”

Resilience Amid Climate Change

Another local farmer, Bwalya Katongo, saw firsthand how agroecology can cushion farmers against climate shocks. During the difficult 2023–2024 farming season, when rainfall was far below average, his crops still thrived.

“Despite poor rains, I harvested maize and other crops because of agroecology,” Mr. Katongo says. “After harvesting, we don’t burn crop residues. We use them to make bokashi , a type of organic compost to enrich the soil.”

His year-round vegetable garden now provides consistent income, thanks to sustainable soil practices and crop diversity.

Bwalya Katongo farm

Natural Pest Control, Local Innovation

In Shibunji, farmers have abandoned chemical pesticides, opting instead for natural pest control methods rooted in traditional knowledge.
At Mr. Sambole’s farm, chili water and banana peel sprays help repel insects. Mr. Katongo plants marigold flowers as trap plants their bright colors draw pests away from vegetables — and uses cassava leaf extract as a natural pesticide.

“The pests are attracted to the marigolds because of their color,” he explains. “They leave the vegetables alone.”

marigold planted along with vegetables to control paste

chill also used to control paste

Reviving the Land and Local Knowledge

According to Mulife Likomelo, a CTDT field officer, agroecology’s spread in Shibunji is doing more than just restoring farmland it’s rekindling indigenous knowledge and traditional farming systems aligned with the environment.

“Agroecology is helping farmers mitigate climate change, promote better health, and preserve traditional farming methods,” Likomelo says.

A Model for Sustainable Agriculture

Across Zambia, climate change is manifesting through erratic rainfall, longer dry seasons, and increasing food insecurity. But Shibunji’s farmers are demonstrating that resilience doesn’t always depend on high-tech solutions — sometimes, it comes from working with nature and looking back to move forward.

As more smallholders like Mr. Sambole and Mr. Katongo embrace agroecology, Shibunji could soon become a national model for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.