We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
In all honesty, the first thing would buy is fertilizer. Depending on our farmland size I believe 4 bags would be sufficient to guarantee us a good harvest of more than 16 bags next season. As you know "food is life" so making sure that we have it sounds like the right thing to do with these funds for us. Having secured the fertilizer, we would go on and get ourselves some livestock, like I mentioned earlier goats or chickens would provide an ideal cushion if our maize harvest dwindles. "4 goats and maybe 5 chickens would be a good start we presume" she said while looking at her spouse who agreed with a nod. Agricultural life is unpredictable so yes we would like to broaden our choices in terms of backbone supports for our family whenever in need, that's why we plan on venturing into livestock farming with these funds. We can't put specific prices on these spendings because we have no idea how much they cost currently.
What is the happiest part of your day?
This year alot of people had very low maize yields from their farms buwt I managed to come out of it with 16 bags of 50 kg from my 2.5 acres. With our rations and eating pattern, thus, porridge for breakfast and nsima for supper, we believe these 16 bags will take us up to February next year and knowing that atleast we are food secure for that long gives me a sense of joy and gratitude everyday. And yes, we skip lunch because we cannot afford to have 3 meals a day so we usually just take porridge around 10 or 11 AM then supper in the evening. Whenever I get to sit down and eat with my family in peace, my heart rejoices.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
"Lack of means to access and afford fertilizer" she replied without hesitation.
By means I mean financial muscle money, we are an agricultural reliant family and whenever we draw closure to the farming season, as it is right now, our constant worry is on how we are going to come up with funds to purchase fertilizer. This is worsened when we experience irregular rain patterns. This is why we have always wanted to own some livestock such as goats or chickens to act as a backup plan if our farm produce are low that year. But due to lack of money we are unabIe to do that. have 6 children and it's a daily struggle having to feed such a big family for me. Currently I am staying with 4 while 2 of them are with their granny over there in Mkwenembela village. All this in an effort to ease the burden.
