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http://www.kiva.org - Kiva lets you make a loan to a specific low-income entrepreneur -- empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. Oscar, Zambia, Agriculture http://www.kiva.org/lend/533684 Oscar, 38, is a farmer with eight children from the remote region of Kabompo district, North Western Province, Zambia. He is asking for a Kiva loan to buy a water pump so that he may irrigate his vegetable farm. Oscar started his business of farming vegetables for the local market in 2003. Currently he produces fresh maize, cabbage, and tomatoes. While his business is growing at a fast rate, his farm remains small and is limited by the seasons. He is also unable to expand his current crops as he is forced to fetch water with a bucket. Equipment such as a water pump can be a major boost for many vegetable farmers such as Oscar, as it allows for increased production and more predictable yields due to irrigation. Unfortunately, it is rare to find equipment such as a water pump in such a remote region of the country, and transport to the capital city (two days travel) can be prohibitive. Once Oscar secures a loan, he will be able to get a water pump from Rent-to-Own, which will deliver the equipment to his farm, as well as provide training on how to use and maintain it. With a pump, whether in the rainy season or dry season, Oscar will be able to produce and sell a range of produce throughout the year, unlike at the moment where he has a shortage of water during the dry season. The use of a pump will also mean that he can irrigate a larger portion of land in less time and not be restricted by the labor-intensive task of carrying water by hand to his field. Oscar added that when he starts producing more products, he would like to extend his business to be able to serve markets in other nearby communities. It is for this reason Oscar is appealing to the Kiva lenders to help him with the loan so that he can secure a water pump as soon as possible.