Short summary of main activities / results in period July-September 2009

Cape Town - South Africa
The Business Plan has been produced. The plan looks at up-scaling the vegetable boxes for marketing to parents at schools. UPFS activities were identified and we have had to start implementing them since some of them were critical to on-going farming activities. The MSF has been revitalized and is now fully functional with a new leadership and some new stakeholders.

Bulawayo - Zimbabwe
In Bulawayo production of plans (Business, Project, and UPFS) is complete. As part of group strengthening, farmers have received training and have toured existing poultry projects in the city. The groups have also prepared a constitution, and are confirming orders and contracts with suppliers and potential buyers. Project management structures have been put in place.

The MSF is up and running. It has a new chairman who is very keen and is also a councillor in the city council. The NGO-MSF (SNV) has also seconded an officer to coordinate the forum and this should lead to improved coordination.

The NGO FSTT has sourced for an additional 300 000 euros for bringing electricity and other infrastructural improvements to he project site.

Ndola - Zambia
Project management structure have been put in place and training for office bearers conducted.

Business plan and UPFS completed. Nurseries for tomatoes have been planted and are awaiting transplanting. Land preparations for the transplanting at advanced stage. At the moment out the envisaged 100 farmers, only 95 have been participating regularly. Other 5 have had challenges in the households like deaths which have affected their participation. Plans are in pace to replace them at this early stage.

The MSF’s smooth functioning has been affected by the busy schedule of the chairperson where two meetings had be cancelled last minute due to his busy schedule. Plans are at and advanced stage to replace the chair.