Summary of project status and achievements:
FMI Agro-loans: The FMI farmers are doing well. They spent this month re-applying fertilizer to their crops. A couple of the farmers’ fields in Block F are experiencing flooding due to the heavy rainfall, but they should be able to recover and all are expected to harvest well.
The Project Coordinator was on leave for the end of the month due to resettlement interviews. He is scheduled to resettle to Canada later this year and will be periodically traveling to Lusaka in the coming months. Due to his absence, and the maternity leave of the Women’s Centre coordinator, the FMI Savings Circle has not yet begun. When both employees return to their positions, the Women’s Centre coordinator will train the FMI Project Coordinator and the Savings Circle will begin shortly thereafter. We have already received a good amount of interest for the program from men in the Block C community who are eager to begin saving.
The PM and the Project Coordinator also attended Mangana cooperative meetings this month. Mangana has now earned its own certificate and, instead of using another cooperative’s credentials (Agro-deal), it will use its own in the coming season. Despite this, the PM is still hopeful that the Block H cooperative will be up and running by next season so that FMI will be able to go through them. Overall, Mangana has proved to be an unstable and unreliable cooperative and should be avoided if possible.
FMI Small-business loans: There were no collections this month for FMI Small-business loans. The former-FMI employees were busy with their new duties this month and did not have time to visit old clients. We will make another push for repayment in March to remind clients that they are still expected to fulfill their obligations to FORGE.
Future activities and projections:
During the COC’s visit to Meheba, the COC and the PM discussed the possibility of FMI holding Business Workshops during the year for different communities. The PM believes there is significant potential in this idea, and will begin working up a curriculum with the FMI Project Coordinator.
Indicators and statistics:
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or requests:
None.
