During a household survey in 2023, 52% of households in Chipanje Chetu said that they, or someone in their family, did not eat food for a full day due to food shortages at home. Niassa province has faced recurring food shortages due to unpredictable regional weather taking its toll on a largely subsistence-based agricultural community. These food crises negatively affect conservation outcomes as farmers clear more land in the hope of enabling a better crop yield year on year. In some remote areas, the cost of transport to buy a sack of maize when food stocks deplete, is more than the food itself.

To boost food security, the Yambone Initiative is partnering with communities to buy and store food in their villages during the harvest season taking advantage of low market prices, and reselling at cost when household food stores deplete. This initiative has stabilised the price of food in villages, relieved pressure on household income and reduced farm expansion.

In partnership with the communities of Programa Chipanje Chetu, Yambone is addressing a key source of stress, and helping to develop solutions to community dependency on natural resources.

With thanks to:
Field Producer: Kolby Edwards
Producer: Lexi Verhoef
Yambone Infrastructure Manager: Cloud Kutuka
Local Entrepreneur: Mafaquene Sabite
Executive Producers: Emily During & Alastair During

Yambone, Make Better