Young Zambian wanting to get into farming — where do I start?
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I'm a 19-year-old university student (turning 20 in October) interested in getting into horticulture/vegetable farming and poultry.
I love my university programme and don't plan on dropping out, but farming is something I've become really passionate about and would like to build alongside my studies.
The problem is that I have very little experience and limited capital. I've had some exposure to farming, but I'm basically starting from zero when it comes to running my own project.
I'd really appreciate advice from Zambian farmers or people in the agriculture sector on:
How to gain practical experience as a beginner
Good places/resources to learn
How to start small with limited money
Funding opportunities for young farmers
How to balance farming with university
Any mistakes or lessons you wish you knew when starting
I'm not looking for a shortcut. I just want to learn properly and gradually build something of my own.
Any advice from people who've actually done this in Zambia would be greatly appreciated.