Virtually all the villagers are farmers, each with their own smallholding (“shamba”) where they cultivate their crops (usually maize), keep their chickens, goats, and sometimes a cow or pigs.
Maize is planted in December, fertilized in January, and harvested after the rains in April. They grow sufficient maize for their own needs and to sell at market stalls.
In the 1990s a small business scheme was set up where groups of 4 or 5 farmers could apply to the village council for a loan to set up or extend a variety of farming projects. At the same time, an irrigation scheme was funded by Dublin Rotary Club so that the growing season could be extended. More recently a beekeeping project was set up by a group of farmers to provide honey for the villagers.
The Luhimba Project 