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Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

A social enterprise supporting rural farmers & entrepreneurs with agricultural tech and training.

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Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

Farming social enterprise proudly based in Zambia

A social enterprise supporting rural farmers & entrepreneurs with agricultural tech and training.

A social enterprise supporting rural farmers & entrepreneurs with agricultural tech and training.

A social enterprise supporting rural farmers & entrepreneurs with agricultural tech and training.

A social enterprise supporting rural farmers & entrepreneurs with agricultural tech and training.

Carl Jensen
Carl Jensen
Carl Jensen
Carl Jensen
1 Campaign |
Chipata, Zambia
$3,860 USD 52 backers
38% of $10,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

We are farmers at heart.

Zasaka uses market-based approaches to help farmers create lasting income. We introduce affordable, appropriate technologies and work with farmers to grow and market high-value crops through local entrepreneurs.

In the past year, we have:

  1. Established a crop diversification program with 40 farmers in Zambia’s Eastern Province.
  2. Raised maize yields for these farmers by an estimated 75%
  3. Introduced 5 tested technologies to reduce labor demands and increase farm profitability.

This farmer group has seen 2X increase in income from their increased yields and access to new crop markets and technologies. Plus, 100% of these farmers have re-elected to join the program next year!

  

Through Zasaka and our team of lead farmers, this group will grow to reach 800 farmers in just 3 years! Help us reach our next group of 40 amazing farmers and watch us grow! Make a contribution today. 

We are Zasaka's founders

Sunday was born and raised in Zambia. His passion for alleviating poverty, improving the lives of farmers, and gender equity drove him to work for organizations like Heifer International and get his degree in Developmental Studies from Zambia Catholic University.

Carl grew up on a wheat farm in Northern Idaho and farming is in his blood. He has worked with subsistence farmers in several countries around the world, but he now calls Zambia home. At UC Davis he studied International Agricultural Development focused on soil management (how dirty!) and entrepreneurship. 

 

We truly love legumes. We monkey around with maize. We have fun on the farm. Thank you for supporting Zasaka! 

Scaling impact

The new group of 40 farmers we will reach through your support, has 1 lead farmer (we call them farmer-preneurs), and 1 apprentice. This seed group will grow to reach 800 farmers in just 3 years!

Here’s how it’s done: 

Our partners help by nominating local, entrepreneurial lead farmers to be farmer-preneurs and apprentices. Our trainings help these leaders build the capacity of their community of farmers, and increase their own earnings.

Your funds go to getting the technologies, trainings, and crops in the hands of these farmers. Check out the details on corn shellers, cowpea seeds, water pumps, and more, plus the awesome rewards you will get for supporting our work. The product catalogue is on our website.

Risks and challenges

Working with rural farmers comes with risks & challenges. The weather can affect the growing season as well as our team’s ability to reach every farmer. Prices of and access to seeds and other farming inputs can fluctuate over time. We work to reduce risk by strategies including:

  • investing in the training and leadership of our farmer-preneurs,
  • creating distribution and training partnerships,
  • carefully mapping our growth in the region,
  • promoting crop diversity while including improved practices for staple crops.
Without these funds, Zasaka will continue to grow, but much more slowly. We create revenue through the new technologies we have introduced in agrodealer shops and the sales of our crops. Our business model is working, and we need your help to grow quickly to serve more farmers.

Spread the word!

Let others know about Zasaka and how they can help!

Tweet your support

Make your contribution by selecting a perk level -->

Thank you! 
From Zambia with love,
Team Zasaka

- Zambia's beautiful Eastern Provence, photo by Dimitri Zakharov
Big thanks to Josh Hyde, LoFu Productions for our video!
Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

featured

One Universal Nut Sheller

$100 USD
A group of farmers can share one universal nut sheller and increase their shelling time by up to 50X! Groundnuts (or peanuts) are an excellent source of nutrition and revenue for a family. Help us get more nut shellers into communities! Receive a pack of photo note cards with beautiful Zambian scenes, a sweet Zasaka t-shirt, and the other rewards above.
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
1 out of 100 of claimed

Maize/Corn Seed for One Farmer

$20 USD
Provide one farmer with enough seed to grow 2/3 hectare of maize (corn). A huge challenge for farmers is late deliveries of maize seed from the government, as maize is a staple crop. Providing loans of maize seed early, and along with agricultural training, allows farmers to take advantage of ideal planting times and improve their harvests. Grow and eat maize at home too! For a $20 contribution, receive a thank you card and packet of corn seed.
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
3 out of 150 of claimed

Cowpea Seed for One Farmer

$25 USD
Provide one farmer with enough seed to grow 1/3 hectare of cowpea. Zasaka's loans of cowpea seeds allow farmers to take advantage of new crop markets, improve the nutrition of their families, and boost soil health. Cowpea is a tasty and simple crop for you to grow too! For a $25 contribution, receive a thank you card and packet of cowpeas to grow and eat at home.
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
4 out of 150 of claimed

One Maize/Corn Sheller

$35 USD
A hand-held corn sheller is a simple and inexpensive tool that speeds up the process of removing corn kernels from the cob by hand. It increases threshing time for a farmer (as much as 10X!) and reduces kernel breakage as well. Help us get corn shellers in the hands of farmers! As a thank you, you will receive the rewards above as well as a hand-written thank you card in the mail that has a photo of the beautiful Zambian landscape.
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
2 out of 100 of claimed

One Backpack Sprayer

$50 USD
Help farmers increase yields and take less time treating crops by using backpack sprayers for simple fertilizers they need for corn and cowpeas. Receive an awesome Zasaka t-shirt as a thank you, as well as all rewards above.
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
2 out of 100 of claimed

40 Crop Storage Bags

$80 USD
PICS bags are awesome! They store maize, cowpea, and many other crops and without harmful insecticides for many times longer than traditional jute bags. No insecticides = better family health. No pests = better crop quality. Long-term storage = better food security for families, and ability to take advantage of shifting crop prices. Receive a pack of photo note cards with beautiful Zambian scenes, a sweet Zasaka t-shirt, and the other rewards above.
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
0 out of 100 of claimed

Edu. training for 40 farmers

$150 USD
Provide educational & training materials for one extension worker to reach 40 farmers. Zasaka teaches conservation farming techniques, use of agricultural technologies, and partners with local groups to teach financial management. Our extension workers or "farmer-prenenuers" reach the most rural of farmers & improving the lives of families across Zambia. Share our love of education! Receive one of our favorite Zambian books (choice of child or adult), note cards, a t-shirt, & a than
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
1 out of 100 of claimed

Rehab a Grain Storage Facility

$250 USD
So many buildings that could be used as community storage sites for grain need some Zasaka love to be dry, cool, and safe. Many farmers keep grain at home, which often doesn't have the right conditions for long-term storage. Help us rehab local storage facilities in Chipata and in other communities across the region. We love locally made! Receive a beautiful handwoven basket by a local Chipata resident, note cards, a t-shirt, & a thank you note.
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
2 out of 50 of claimed

Zasaka Core Community Member

$1,000 USD
Zasaka works to get affordable, high-quality agricultural technologies and trainings in the hands of all farmers in Zambia, then Malawi, and beyond. We call the rural towns where we engage farmers face-to-face in testing and providing feedback on our technologies and trainings our Core Communities. Join us as a Core Community Member today! Receive a special large format photo of Zambia (of your choice) and a phone call with Zasaka co-founders Carl & Sunday to learn more! + all other reward
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
0 out of 25 of claimed

Zasaka First Funders

$10,000 USD
We believe that progress is about passion and entrepreneurship in communities across Zambia, and beyond. We are committed to this vision. Share our vision as a Zasaka First Funder! You can single handedly grow our program to reach 40 more farmers this year, 200 next year, and exponentially in years to come. Let's kick things off with a call with Zasaka founders Carl and Sunday. Then join us in Zambia for a personalized 3-day tour of farms, markets, & wildlife! (Travel to Zambia not included
Estimated Shipping
July 2015
0 out of 10 of claimed

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