SKI Partners strengthen natural farming skills at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre in Zambia

SKI Partners Strengthen Natural Farming Skills at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre in Zambia

In December 2025, SKI concluded its busy year in a joint learning in Natural Farming (NF) hosted in Zambia by KATC and its partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Community Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative. SKI partners and Agroecology champions spent a week with their hands in practical learning on innovative bio-stimulants, debating the benefits and adaptability of Natural Farming’s coined ‘Any Time Money’(ATM) and ‘A Grade’ models – a zero budget farm where nature does the work  in the southern African context, and collectively planning how to take lessons home.

The hands-on training explored the principles and practices of Natural Farming with emphasis on soil health, maximising biodiversity and  ecosystem services, and the important role that social systems play in the successful scaling of NF to millions of farmers in India. Participants developed a demo plot together based on the ATM model, learning about planting densities, spacing, and crop management. Practicing bio-stimulant preparation and its adaptation to local contexts and available alternative ingredients was a highlight, reinforcing innovative trials that some SKI partners have been exploring since 2019 when initial relationships with the APCNF were seeded. Thanks to the power of partnerships, KATC’s NF project with Now Partners and Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RYSS) farmer leaders resident in Zambia, offered SKI partners the opportunity to engage directly with farmers from India and deepen global sharing in innovations in agroecology and climate adaptation.

To complete the experience, the group also visited  Loctaguna Organics, an agroecology oasis in Lusaka, led by agroecology champion Kanganga Newlove, board member to ZAAB and SKI AE Enterprise champion, trialling NF lessons from KATC with valuable insights for localising Indian best practice and scaling production to meet market demands. They were treated to a special Farm to Fork – My Food Is African lunch on the farm and then wrapped up a full day with a visit to Greens & Grains Organic Shop. This is home to the uBumi PGS Group – a Participatory Guarantee System ensuring agroecology principles and practice connect through  holistic food systems approach. They shared lessons in appropriate AE produce packaging, marketing, and sales strategies, linking farmers to consumers and promoting public awareness through Zambia’s My Food is African campaign.

Image 3: Photos Credit: Partrick Twala (Earthlore Farmer) -Partrick putting learning in action from the natural farming learning visit at Kasisi

Ultimately, partners and leading farmers recognised the need to trial these practices back home with others and in farmer field schools, to pilot what new techniques can be added to their growing AE innovations toolboxes. Research through FFS, demo plots and farmer to farmer sharing were recognised as key next steps needed to take this forward in the region – noting the value of the NF practices to support adaptation strategies and scale production for increased livelihoods opportunities.