Dan and Ramatah are developing a 15-hectare plot of previously unused land on the outskirts of Livingstone, Zambia. They are now building an agribusiness, producing cherry tomatoes and fresh vegetables.PHOTO/FAO/Mukaba Mukaba.
By SECIAL CORRESPONDENT
For one young, Zambian couple, it all began with a bold decision to leave their desk jobs. What started as conversations about building a meaningful livelihood that could give them independence soon led to the purchase of a 15-hectare plot to start an agribusiness, producing food and supporting local markets.
The plot they bought, just a few kilometres but an hour’s drive outside of Livingstone, was previously an underutilised piece of peri-urban land. Now rows of red cherry tomatoes and fresh vegetables glitter in the sun, ready for harvest. It is Dan and Ramatah Chileshe’s hard work that brought it to life.
Across Zambia’s urbanising territories, cities like Livingstone are shaping how food is produced, moved and consumed, generating both opportunities and pressures for young agripreneurs in peri-urban areas.
As demand in cities grows, young farmers in surrounding areas have a bigger role to play in supplying fresh food, creating jobs and bridging the gap between rural production and urban markets.
From day one, Dan and Ramatah embraced a conservation ethic: for every tree they had to clear, they planted three new ones elsewhere.
But the early years proved difficult. Tomato yields were inconsistent, particularly during the dry season when the Maramba River receded and water was short. Without knowledge of and access to extension support the couple relied on trial and error, as well as persistence, to overcome their challenges.
During a two-year drought that affected both their farm and the region, they implemented precision irrigation, carefully measuring and administering only the amount of water required per crop. The introduction of this irrigation system not only helped conserve water but also saved time for their labour force, improving their productivity.
The young couple recognised the need to also strengthen the business side of their enterprise and increase capital investment. With this objective, in 2025, they joined the “Empowering Urban Youth for Green Jobs in Urban and Peri-Urban Agrifood Systems” project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Dan and Ramatah participated in capacity-building financial sessions, gaining practical business skills and knowledge they could apply to their growing agribusiness. “We learned how to plan our business, manage finances, schedule production and apply new climate-smart practices,” said Dan.
“It [the FAO project] helped us think like business owners, not just farmers,” Ramatah said.
Dan and Ramatah are now further advancing climate-smart agriculture by producing compost manure from livestock waste, generating biochar (a type of natural fertiliser) from tomato and maize residues and practising intercropping with pepper and chilli that act as natural pesticides, reducing the need for chemicals.
The biochar restores soil fertility, improves water retention and sequesters carbon, strengthening resilience to climate change and supporting sustainable production.
To address the shortage of skilled labour, they are working with the Agri-Tech Vocational Pathway in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Zambia College of Agriculture. This initiative will bring top students to the farm for six-month practical residencies, creating a strong talent pool of young technicians trained in modern agricultural systems.
Dan and Ramatah are also exploring lease-to-own financing options with suppliers, while aligning their investments with climate-smart funding opportunities to help them navigate the financial challenges of scaling their business.
As young agribusiness owners, they are preparing to move beyond primary production into value addition and digital trade to better serve the nearby urban market.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Dan explains, “We want to expand production, introduce hydroponics and use every part of this land efficiently. We are also planning to produce tomato paste and chilli sauces.”
Two hectares of high-quality soil have already been earmarked for expansion under precision irrigation. Rocky terrain will be converted into hydroponic production zones, enabling soil-less cultivation of leafy greens and herbs.
They plan to reduce post-harvest losses from tomato and chilli products, while also developing a digital platform to distribute both fresh and processed products directly to urban consumers.
Now that their business has grown, the couple plans to live and raise their children surrounded by the nature and farm that sustains them.
The skills and support they have received have encouraged them to help other young farmers adopt sustainable practices. Dan and Ramatah also plan to launch an outgrower programme, partnering with other youth smallholder farmers in urban and peri-urban areas to train them in climate-smart agriculture and land restoration. This initiative will help them meet nationwide supply contracts, while strengthening local farming capacity.
Urban and peri-urban farms are part of the wider agrifood system that supplies growing towns and cities such as Livingstone. Strengthening these enterprises helps improve the availability of fresh food, create jobs for young people and connect peri-urban production more effectively to urban markets.
Young farmers and agripreneurs are the future of sustainable agriculture. FAO supports youth-led enterprises to strengthen local supply, build greener and more resilient production and connect peri-urban jobs to growing urban demand. With the right training and tools, youth in these emerging urban outskirts can lead the way in driving economic growth in their communities.
