80 Magobbo Smallholders Trained to Succeed in Zambia

"It is pertinent to Zambia Sugar’s strategy to build the capacity of MCGT to manage its own affairs and run independently in a commercially sustainable way."

IMAGE (Above): Angerston Chuubo receives his certificate from Zambia Sugar Head of Corporate Strategy, Doreen Kabunda, while looking on are CICEP programme manager Dixon Moyo (left - in red t-shirt), Trustee of Mazabuka Sugarcane Growers Trust, Phanuel Hankede and Hephzibah Beyani (Zambia Sugar Smallholders Development Manager). ABOVE (Right): The first group of MCGT participants pose with their certificates at Nanga Farms Training Centre after completing their training.

IN its quest to build capacity among smallholders, the company has conducted the training of 80 Magobbo Cane Growers Trust (MCGT) smallholder farmers, at Nanga Farms training centre, which concluded on 11 April. It is pertinent to Zambia Sugar’s strategy to build the capacity of MCGT to manage its own affairs and run independently in a commercially sustainable way.

The farmers were divided into three groups of 27, 27 and 26 respectively and each group attended five days of training in “Organisation Management and Governance” and in “Personal Financial Management”. The total attendance out of 80 farmers was 74 (92.5%).

It is hoped that the knowledge gained at this small- holder training will help farmers at MCGT in many ways, including conducting meetings in an orderly manner, appointing trustees, recruiting technical managers and staff to run their management company, and personal financial management to avoid over-exposure to debt.