Zambia’s Agriculture Sector Urged to Revamp Policy Framework for Sustainable Growth
Zambia’s agriculture sector, which holds immense potential, requires urgent policy reforms to ensure sustainable growth and balance both national food security and export demands.
Economic expert Kelvin Chisanga has emphasized that a stable, export-led agricultural growth strategy is essential to revamping the sector, which has faced challenges such as supply deficits due to lack of proper planning.
Mr. Chisanga noted that Zambia’s agriculture, blessed with fertile soil and favorable climatic conditions, should be a driving force for national economic development. However, despite the promising prospects, the country has underperformed in comparison to its potential.
“We must rise above the current challenges and focus on developing a robust agriculture policy framework,” he stated. “If we don’t address this now, we risk continued deficits in supply and missed opportunities in the export market.”
Mr. Chisanga also pointed to Rwanda as a model for Zambia’s agricultural transformation. Despite its limited resources and mountainous terrain, Rwanda has effectively focused its efforts on tea plantations, generating substantial economic benefits.
“Rwanda’s agricultural success, despite its resource limitations, is a testament to what can be achieved with strategic planning and the right policy framework,” said Mr. Chisanga. “Zambia, with its abundant resources, has the potential to achieve far greater results if we take the right steps.”
He concluded by urging the Zambian government to take inspiration from Rwanda’s agricultural strategies, focusing on cultivating the right policy environment, engaging the export market, and improving local food production to ensure long-term growth and stability.
