She got her first loan of ZMK50, 000 from the group and bought fertilizer, vegetable and tomato seeds which she planted on her plot of land. When they were ready for harvest she started selling these vegetables at the local market. She did not supply to other wholesalers but opted to sell them at the market herself as it proved more profitable. She paid back the loan, bought uniforms for her grade seven daughter, more seeds, fertilizer and pesticides.

The program has mobilized more than 8000 women in three constituencies in Mpika District and organized them into 412 groups. In less than three years, these rural women, who were solely dependent on their husbands for support, have collectively raised nearly 156 million Zambian kwacha or the equivalent of $31,000.

This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of [insert recipient name] and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.