Context
Zambia has fertile land, abundant water resources, and significant potential to diversify its economy through agricultural products. Despite these promising conditions, the agricultural sector has experienced only minimal growth in recent years.
Half of Zambia’s workforce is employed in agriculture. As smallholder farmers, they mostly practice rain-fed agriculture. They produce 85 percent of Zambia's agricultural products. Nutrient-poor white maize accounts for 80 percent of the food produced and occupies almost two-thirds of the agricultural land. Farming practices are often not climate-resilient. Yet climate change, through increasing extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy rainfall, threatens the already vulnerable livelihoods of the Zambian population.
Objective
Agricultural and food policies will be developed evidence-based, and the framework conditions for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises will be improved. This will contribute to enhanced climate adaptation of small-scale farming, better nutrition for the population, higher income, and gender equality.
Approach
The project expands the capacities of the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture. It advises the ministry on successful practices and innovations in order to disseminate them nationally and regionally. The project also supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector in expanding their business models.
Status: March 2025