In 2012, JTI Zambia launched its Safe Water Project, aimed at providing clean drinking water to tobacco-growing communities where it sources its tobacco. The initiative was part of the company’s broader Supply Chain Due Diligence process, which seeks to identify, mitigate, and report on risks within its value chain.
The primary goal of the Safe Water Project was to supply clean water for both grower families and crop irrigation, thereby reducing non communicable diseases as well as improving yields and enhancing food security. Over the course of 13 years, JTI Zambia has successfully drilled 250 plus boreholes in Eastern and Western provinces, and more recently, in Central Province, where 14 additional boreholes have been installed.
The project has also benefitted local health posts, such as Chitwa, Kakanda, and Dwankodzi, along with schools like St. Margaret Secondary School. Furthermore, the initiative has sparked other projects, including vegetable gardens that feed school children and provide extra income for students.
As water scarcity remains a challenge in the areas where JTI operates, this long-term, sustainable project is poised to leave a lasting legacy of improved health, food security, and community resilience.
