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In the heart of Nsambilo Village, in Bunda Bunda Chiefdom, one farmer is proving that the fight against climate change starts with seeds, soil, and a shared vision.
Meet Bornface Shawa—a proud Lead Farmer and local changemaker supported by the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project (LZRP), implemented by BioCarbon Partners (BCP) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2024, Bornface joined a training program focused on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)—a method that not only boosts crop yields but also protects forests, conserves soil, and strengthens climate resilience.
Like many rural farmers in Zambia, Bornface once faced a difficult reality: declining soil fertility, lower crop yields, and the need to clear new fields year after year, often at the expense of surrounding forests.
But deforestation isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a livelihood issue.
Enter Climate-Smart Agriculture.
Through BCP’s training, Bornface learned how to sustainably manage the same piece of land season after season. He was introduced to organic practices, soil fertility techniques, agroforestry, and the use of Gliricidia sepium—a nitrogen-fixing tree species that naturally improves soil quality.
Farming expansion is one of the leading causes of deforestation in Zambia. But farmers like Bornface are changing that story. By adopting and sharing sustainable techniques such as minimum tillage, intercropping, agroforestry, and improved soil management, Bornface is cultivating the same piece of land year after year, without degrading its fertility or clearing more forest.
“I am thankful to BCP for the support they have rendered to my household through the Climate-Smart Agriculture program,” Bornface says. “Because of the knowledge acquired from the lead farmer training, my crop this year is doing very well compared to the past years. I anticipate a higher yield at harvest.”
“This training changed the way I think about farming,” says Bornface. “Now I can grow more food, protect my land, and preserve the forest that supports our lives.”
To help him succeed, Bornface received:
25 kg bag of maize seed.
2 bags of D Compound and 1 bag of Urea fertilizer.
A sturdy Buffalo Bicycle to reach fields and follower farmers.
A work suit for safe farming.
1,000 Gliricidia sepium seeds for agroforestry practices.
This was a launchpad for sustainable change.
Today, Bornface is more than a farmer—he’s a teacher, mentor, and community pillar. He regularly trains seven “follower farmers” in his village, showing them how to improve their yields, restore soil health, and reduce the need to clear new land each season.
“This year, my crop is doing better than it ever has. I expect a higher harvest, more food for my family, and some to sell for income. My household’s well-being is improving.”
He adds with pride:
“I don’t need to open new land anymore. I want to train even more people in my village so we can grow together, without cutting down our forests.”
Bornface’s story is one of thousands across the Lower Zambezi landscape. Thanks to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), rural communities like Nsambilo are connecting conservation with everyday life, where forest protection doesn’t mean less farming, but smarter farming.
BCP’s CSA program is part of a larger vision—to create a future where forests, farmers, and families all thrive. With support from partners and dedication from farmers like Bornface, this future is already taking root.
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