Markets and Seeds Access Project-MASAP

Strengthening Food Security Through Partnership & Innovation

On 18 September 2025, we gathered at Golden Conifer in Harare to officially launch Phase 2 of the Market and Seed Access Project (MASAP), a milestone moment for Zambia and Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation.

The launch brought together a diverse group of stakeholders: government officials, development partners, private sector players, civil society, academia, and most importantly, smallholder farmers from Mudzi and Tsholotsho where part of hashtag is being implemented. We were honoured to have Dr. Dumisani Kutwayo representing the Zimbabwean Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and Mr. Stefano Berti from the Embassy of Switzerland, our funding partner.

Since inception, hashtag has been aligned with both the Zambian and Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategies and the National Agricultural Policy Frameworks, driving climate-resilient mechanisation and private sector engagement. The project champions farmer-led seed systems, supporting the formalisation of indigenous knowledge and seed variety registration. Evidence-based decision-making is central including tracking crop volumes, incomes, and livelihoods to guide future investments. hashtag Phase 2 will scale up to reach 60,000 more households, with a strong focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalised farmers. We understand that collaboration is key and the success depends on partnerships across government, implementing agencies, the private sector, and farming communities. We aim to implement a market-led approach ensures that climate-smart crops like sorghum, millet, and groundnuts are not only resilient but economically viable.

During the launch, the panel discussion highlighted the growing synergy between smallholder farmers and the private sector in seed production and quality management which is encouraging sign of sustainable impact. hashtag is more than a project. It’s a movement toward inclusive, climate-smart, and market-driven agriculture. Together, we’re building a resilient future for Zambia and Zimbabwe’s farmers and food systems.

hashtag represents a collaborative effort between NIRAS International Consulting, the Community Technology Development Organisation (hashtag ), and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, with funding support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

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We're thrilled to announce the official launch of Phase 2 of the Markets and Seeds Access Project in Zambia and Zimbabwe (MASAP)!

The launch event is taking place today, 18 September 2025, in Harare at the Golden Conifer, 30 Quendon Road, Strathaven.

We are honoured to have the Head of Development Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Zimbabwe and our guest of honour, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, gracing the occasion.

We look forward to a successful and impactful Phase 2 as we continue our work in supporting Smallholder Farmers in the supported value chains.

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MEET OUR NEW TEAM LEADER

Meet Alex Mugova – a seasoned Market Systems Development (MSD) specialist with over 25 years of experience in driving sustainable, systemic change across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Alex has a proven track record in leading dispersed teams, managing budgets of up to €26 million, and designing MSD strategies that create real, lasting impact—particularly in agro-business and rural value chains.

He brings deep expertise in Africa’s seed sector, including work with smallholder farmers as seed outgrowers and significant contributions to seed policy, certification, and trade in Zambia.

Alex is passionate about Market Systems and is highly experienced in policy and advocacy, working to bridge research and regulation by developing policy briefs and engaging with legislative bodies to foster a more enabling business environment.
Connect with Alex to learn more about his work in transforming markets and empowering smallholder farmers across the region.

Indeed!!

Seed sovereignty is the right of farmers to save, use, exchange and sell their own seeds, a practice Zambian farmers have maintained for generations!

Unlike restrictive seed laws that benefit multinational companies, seed sovereignty ensures:

• Local control of our food systems
• Protection of our agricultural heritage
• Sustainable farming without dependency

When farmers control their seeds, they control their future. Our traditional seed systems have supported Zambian communities for centuries!



Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre Community Technology Development Trust-zambia. FIAN International Zambia CSO SUN SCOPE Zambia a member of Rescope Programme NET Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity Caritas Zambia UNDP Zambia Zambia Climate Change Network We Effect Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) PELUM Kenya Association Keepers Zambia Foundation Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Southern Africa SEPA Zambia UNDP Zambia PELUM Eswatini GEF Small Grants Programme Markets and Seeds Access Project-MASAP Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia Musika Zambia

🎉🎯 Major Milestone Achieved! 🎯🎉

During its 3rd year of implementation, hashtag had already achieved its four-year target by promoting and supporting 10 diverse seed production initiatives both in Zimbabwe and Zambia! 🌾🌱

These initiatives include the promotion of small grains & legumes, postharvest handling, seed storage, contract farming, seed multiplication, and more—empowering local farmers every step of the way. 🚜✨

But that's not all! We've exceeded our goal for women, youth, and disadvantaged groups' participation in research activities, with 3,448 individuals actively involved. 🙌🌍

👏 Join us in celebrating these achievements! Together, we're building a sustainable future for agriculture! 🌾💪

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Empowering communities, one step at a time! 🌍💪

As MASAP, we work to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth. We are all about community ownership and creating sustainable change. During our recent visit to Mudzi District of Zimbabwe, it was encouraging to see how project support initiatives help the local communities such as this women and youth cooperative based in the district. Faced with challenges in tending their fields due to the vulnerability of their livestock as a result of the drought, they were able to access funding for essential farming equipment including a tractor, hummer mill, and planter.

This support not only aids in their farming efforts but also enables them to provide services to the broader community, generating income and fostering growth. 🌱✨

Together, we can drive positive change and build stronger, more resilient communities! 💚

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
As we begin 2025, we look at how MASAP has benefitted the communities in both Zambia and Zimbabwe. One of our beneficiaries interviewed indicated that the project has enabled them to expand our product offering to include cowpeas… tinned cowpeas and cowpea flour. It is also improving their feedstock supply. Cowpeas, also known as black-eyed peas, are a vital legume crop in Zambia and Zimbabwe mostly by small holder farmers. It is a vital crop used for food for both humans and animals and is drought resistant. What to learn more about cowpeas and how MASAP is supporting cowpea farmers, visit our be website https://masap-zimzam.com/

The Donor Committee for Enterprise Development is hosting its highly regarded global seminar on private sector development with BEAM Exchange, its knowledge platform on Market Systems Development (MSD). 🔎

The Markets and Seeds Access Project in Zambia and Zimbabwe (MASAP) is thrilled to participate in this upcoming event in Nairobi focusing on systemic approaches for growth, employment, and resilience.

Speaking at the kick-off session – Language matters! Our Project Director, Kristina Mastroianni, will discuss integrating climate and environmental concerns in MSD programmes. Additionally, our MEL Manager, Thabani Moyo, will contribute to the session ‘Greening the MSD approach in agriculture’ by sharing insights on piloting the use of the CEDRIG tool developed by SDC.

We are eager to showcase our success stories and are especially excited to engage with other global seminar participants to explore effective strategies for creating economic opportunities for the less fortunate in a systemic manner.

When it comes to grains🌾, Sorghum may not be the first that comes to your mind, but not for long! MASAP interventions are targeted at making this super grain popular, not just for its drought tolerance and low input abilities but for its nutritional and health value too, a total game changer for sustainable food security and nutrition.

Here are some ways you can have it:

1️⃣ Sorghum Porridge: Start your day with a warm bowl of sorghum porridge topped with fruits, nuts, and a drizzle of honey.
2️⃣ Sorghum Salad: Toss cooked sorghum with your favourite vegetables, herbs, and a zesty dressing for a nutritious and filling salad.
3️⃣ Sorghum Flour: Use sorghum flour in gluten-free baking recipes, from bread to pancakes, for a nutty flavour and hearty texture.
4️⃣ Sorghum Snacks: Pop sorghum kernels for a crunchy snack that’s perfect for movie nights!!

For Zambia and Zimbabwe, Sorghum can be replaced with corn to make Nshima/Sadza respectively. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and protein and a source of dietary fiber which is good for the digestive system.

What a grain!!!!

The Markets and Seeds Access Project in Zambia and Zimbabwe (MASAP) mourns the late seed control and certification institute director- Dr Miti who was dedicated to his work inspiring so many, with a great vision, reforming the seed industry.

We offer our prayers 🙏 to his beloved family, friends and seed industry in Zambia.

Through our partners; the Community Technology Development Trust-zambia. (CTDT) and Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO) (Zimbabwe), MASAP has brought together inclusive stakeholders in the respective countries to discuss initiatives around the Farmer Varieties Registration Frameworks. The engagement in Zimbabwe resulted in the formation of a Seed Analysis Working Group chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture which has further developed two sub committees namely 1) Research, and 2) Policy Analysis. In Zambia, a technical working group is focused on looking into how to contribute towards the seed policy review process in the country.

Our various interventions are focused on driving the utilization of improved seed varieties that can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Improved seeds are bred for higher productivity, optimal growth, and resilience to extreme weather conditions, ensuring better crop performance under varying climates, and therein improving food security in the two countries.

MASAP holds a National Stakeholder Platform and Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting in both Zambia and Zimbabwe yearly. In our last Regional Steering Committee, we were graced by the Director of the The Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) Zambia, Dr. Fransisco Miti, and Mr. Richard Kaitano, the Director of Business Development, Markets and Trade under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD) in Zimbabwe, as co-chairs to the RSC. The focus was on reviewing project progress, analysing partner activities, and discussing challenges and successes for the way forward.

Kristina Mastroianni, the MASAP Project Director, chaired a conversation around the multifaceted approach that MASAP is taking in driving food security in Zambia and Zimbabwe amid changing climatic conditions.

These meetings aim to integrate various areas and streamline monitoring processes by understanding each partner's role in achieving shared goals, ultimately contributing to adoption and utilization of improved seed and enhancing food security in the region.