{"id":1740,"date":"2026-04-29T15:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/?page_id=1740"},"modified":"2026-04-30T10:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:34:34","slug":"research-for-agroecology-network-of-southern-africa-raens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/research-for-agroecology-network-of-southern-africa-raens\/","title":{"rendered":"Research for Agroecology Network of Southern Africa (RAENS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1740\" class=\"elementor elementor-1740\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-21ef4caa elementor-section-content-middle elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"21ef4caa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f0a9094\" data-id=\"5f0a9094\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e6e5e9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7e6e5e9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Project Overview<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c001c06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c001c06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The RAENS initiative is dedicated to strengthening agroecological research and innovation across Southern Africa. By merging scientific data with indigenous knowledge, the project fosters farmer-centered learning. In this phase, PELUM Zambia and the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) collaborated to implement field-level interventions focused on sustainable pest management and resource identification.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3dab8dd7\" data-id=\"3dab8dd7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dd82952 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3dd82952\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"953\" src=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1788\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10.jpg 750w, https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-236x300.jpg 236w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-07f3b80 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"07f3b80\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dfb1f1c\" data-id=\"dfb1f1c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39343a0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"39343a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0bf10f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0bf10f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4def9f9\" data-id=\"4def9f9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e04361e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e04361e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Activity Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3eb8052 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3eb8052\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">During the reporting period, RAENS conducted a series of participatory sessions in Kayoozi (Chipata), Jenda (Mumbwa), and Mangunza (Choma). The activities reached\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">90 beneficiaries<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">\u00a0(47 women, 43 men), including 17 youths. The program integrated practical Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training with community consultations to identify essential farm tools and potential sites for demonstration plots.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a051410 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a051410\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c12177\" data-id=\"5c12177\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-372642f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"372642f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a460062 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a460062\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-98137a7\" data-id=\"98137a7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36eefd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36eefd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Objectives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6e35ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e6e35ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To build the capacity of smallholder farmers in sustainable, non-synthetic pest management.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To identify appropriate tools and technologies tailored to specific community needs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To initiate the selection process for local agroecological learning sites (demonstration plots).<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aeaf2c1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aeaf2c1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-29e39f1\" data-id=\"29e39f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1aeb4de elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1aeb4de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Outputs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1feac8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1feac8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\"><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Practical IPM Training:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0Farmers were trained in preparing bio-pest control solutions using local ingredients like neem, chili, garlic, wood ash, and soapy water.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Tool Identification:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0Communities identified specific needs, including rippers, sprayers, watering cans, compost mixing equipment, and wheelbarrows.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 9pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Knowledge Exchange:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0Farmers shared peer-to-peer experiences regarding crop rotation, intercropping, and field sanitation<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><ul style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;\"><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Increased Self-Reliance:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0Farmers gained the confidence to manage pests using low-cost, locally available materials, reducing dependence on expensive synthetic chemicals.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 9pt 0pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Community Ownership:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0By allowing communities the time to select their own demonstration plot locations, the project secured higher levels of local commitment and sustainability.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: -36pt;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 9pt;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Enhanced Awareness:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'OMEGA CG'; color: #0a0a0a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0Immediate improvements were noted in farmers&#8217; ability to identify pests and understand the environmental benefits of organic solutions<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.295; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-94fbe99 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"94fbe99\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcd5d4e\" data-id=\"fcd5d4e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2d13ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c2d13ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> Challenges and Recommendations<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1d0bbd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e1d0bbd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Challenge: <\/b><\/strong>The time allocated for hands-on practical sessions was insufficient, limiting the depth of technical mastery for some participants.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Recommendation: <\/b><\/strong>Future training schedules should pivot toward a\u00a0<strong><b>&#8220;Field-First&#8221; approach<\/b><\/strong>, allocating at least 70% of the time to practical demonstrations and observation rather than theory.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0ab29b6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0ab29b6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0564b5\" data-id=\"f0564b5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d547f1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d547f1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Way Forward<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e238f04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e238f04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Tool Procurement: <\/b><\/strong>Prioritize the timely delivery of the identified tools to ensure momentum is not lost.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Technical Support: <\/b><\/strong>Provide ongoing mentorship as communities finalize the selection of demonstration plots.<\/li><li><b><\/b><strong><b>Scaling: <\/b><\/strong>Use the evidence gathered from these sites to advocate for the wider adoption of IPM practices across the RAENS network.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-038fcde elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"038fcde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3843137 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3843137\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The activities successfully advanced the RAENS agenda by bridging the gap between agroecological theory and field practice. The high level of engagement from both farmers and District Agricultural Officers underscores the demand for sustainable farming models that improve resilience and productivity while safeguarding human and environmental health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-76f8cda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76f8cda\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-699bc5b\" data-id=\"699bc5b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f9e848 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4f9e848\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c57e12b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c57e12b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Project Activities<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-978f8aa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"978f8aa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53b5531\" data-id=\"53b5531\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78a134c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"78a134c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1740 gallery-columns-4 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150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"78a134c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"11\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTc4MCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3BlbHVtemFtYmlhLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDRcLzExLnBuZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6Ijc4YTEzNGMifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11.png'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-300x300.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"78a134c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"12\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTc4MSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3BlbHVtemFtYmlhLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDRcLzEyLnBuZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6Ijc4YTEzNGMifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/12.png'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/12-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/12-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/12-600x600.png 600w, 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https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-300x300.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-78eb9ac7 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"78eb9ac7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-60b40b14\" data-id=\"60b40b14\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fed00c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1fed00c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span style=\"font-weight:normal\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-b8c62fa8-7fff-642c-a324-b973f1e65a72\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;, serif;background-color: transparent;font-weight: 700;vertical-align: baseline\">POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT AND VALUE ADDITION TRAINING<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71de4ae5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71de4ae5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><i>Training on the Utilization of Cowpea, Sweet Potato, Sorghum and Maize in Chipata, Choma and Mumbwa Districts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ebea197 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ebea197\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-783a2541\" data-id=\"783a2541\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12e0875d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12e0875d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Related Projects<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project Overview The RAENS initiative is dedicated to strengthening agroecological research and innovation across Southern Africa. By merging scientific data with indigenous knowledge, the project fosters farmer-centered learning. In this phase, PELUM Zambia and the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) collaborated to implement field-level interventions focused on sustainable pest management and resource identification. Activity Summary During the reporting period, RAENS&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_regular_price":[],"currency_symbol":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1740","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"post_slider_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":"","post_slider_layout_landscape_large":"","post_slider_layout_portrait_large":"","post_slider_layout_square_large":"","post_slider_layout_landscape":"","post_slider_layout_portrait":"","post_slider_layout_square":"","full":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1740"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1798,"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1740\/revisions\/1798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pelumzambia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}