Green Living Movement Suomi ry.

19/12/2025

25/07/2025

02/07/2025

On 30th April 2025, the community of Chimotos Village in Shimbizhi Ward, Central Mumbwa District, witnessed the official launch of the Agroecology Seed Bank led by Green Living Movement under the Building Community Resilience in Food and Nutrition Security through Agroecology (BCRFNSA) project, with support from the Oak Foundation. The seed bank aims to provide farmers with access to indigenous, nutritious, and climate-resilient seeds, promoting sustainable and diversified food systems.

The event was attended by prominent guests including His Royal Highness Chief Mumba (Guest of Honour), Mumbwa District Commissioner Namukolo Hayumbu, Shimbizhi Ward Councillor Jamila Suleman, government officials, and representatives from partner organizations. Media coverage by national and local outlets amplified the message of seed sovereignty and agroecology.

Speeches highlighted the seed bank as a vital community asset fostering farmer empowerment, climate resilience, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The government pledged to integrate the seed bank into district development plans, while local leaders advocated for policies protecting farmers’ rights to save, share and exchange seeds without fear of criminalization.

Following the official ribbon-cutting by Chief Mumba, guests toured the facility featuring seed sorting, bulking, record-keeping, and storage areas. Farmers also exhibited diverse indigenous seeds, including maize, sorghum, millet, legumes, and vegetables. A farmer-led exhibition showcased food products grown from these seeds, emphasizing nutrition and sustainable agroecological practices used in cultivation—such as crop rotation, mixed cropping, use of organic manure, and seed saving.

Cultural performances by dancers and traditional leaders celebrated the deep ties between seeds, land, and community identity. The launch concluded with a traditional lunch featuring dishes made from indigenous crops, reinforcing the importance of culturally relevant, nutritious food systems.

27/05/2025

As part of last month’s activities to enhance food security, promote agroecology, and strengthen community resilience, a total of 16 Buffalo bicycles, along with tool kits, were procured and handed over to the Community Management Committee (CMC) to support their transportation needs as they mobilize community meetings, monitor activities, and undertake other project-related tasks.

30/04/2025

Crop production is showing promising results. Farmers have implemented intercropping and organic soil management techniques to enhance soil fertility and improve yields. A key factor in this success has been access to a diverse range of local seed varieties from the seed bank, enabling farmers to grow more resilient crops that require fewer external inputs. The use of locally adapted seed varieties, combined with agroecological practices, is strengthening household food reserves and reducing vulnerability to food shortages. These efforts not only enhance food security but also promote seed sovereignty and biodiversity conservation. Continued investment in the seed bank, along with hands-on training for farmers and input support, will be essential to sustaining this progress and expanding the benefits to more community members.

23/04/2025

Livestock production

The livestock initiative has the potential to bring significant long-term benefits to participating communities, particularly in economic empowerment, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices. As livestock numbers increase, households will have surplus animals that can be sold, providing a reliable source of income. Beyond income generation, the initiative will also enhance household nutrition. The implementation of the pass-on program ensures that more families benefit from livestock ownership, expanding economic opportunities across the community.

In all three villages - Shiwezwa, Shimbizhi Central and Malombe - the number of goats and village chickens recorded has increased. Therefore, the livestock production is progressing well, with numbers steadily multiplying. However more needs to be done in capacity building in livestock management for improved reproduction rates.

31/03/2025

A monitoring and evaluation visit was conducted in four zones within Malombe, Shiwezwa, and Shimbizhi Central. The primary objectives of the visit were to assess project progress, engage with community stakeholders, and identify emerging challenges. The monitoring visit included a courtesy visit to the Chief, during which the team provided updates on the project’s progress. Discussions were also centred around forest management in the chiefdom.