A group of Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officer’s spouses have gone from kitchen duties to counting Kwachas after pulling off a brilliant farming hustle of turning acres of dusty land into a thriving potato farm.
Armed not with military weapons but with garden hoes, the Air Power Ladies Club at ZAF Lusaka Base has just launched its first-ever Irish potato harvest, with an expected profit of over K150,000 from an investment of about K38,000.
The mini farm, which started with just over an acre of land inside ZAF Lusaka Base, has turned into a promising source of income for the Airmen’s ribs who are led by club patron Nicolynn Nyoni, wife of Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni.
Speaking to Kalemba after the launch, Nyoni said the potato project is not just about farming, it is about self-reliance.
“People think all Air Force spouses are just housewives, but in this club we have women with PhDs, degrees and even those still trying to find their feet. What we all agree on is that we cannot keep depending on our husbands’ salaries,” she told Kalemba.
She explained that the club picked potatoes because it is a high-value crop, easy to manage and backed by technical support from the Air Force’s own agricultural experts.
However, going forward, they plan to add other crops and increase their profit margins even more.
“So we will be seeing expansion, not only here at ZAF Lusaka, but in all the formations,” added Nyoni.
By George Musonda
Kalemba May 16, 2025
