EU Pledges Continued Support to Smallholder Farmers and SMEs
The European Union (EU) has pledged to continue supporting smallholder farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through initiatives like the 800 million Kwacha Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund.
Despite the fund’s planned conclusion in 2025, the EU aims to mobilize its member states to secure additional resources to extend the initiative.
Claudio Bacigalupi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, highlighted that the Enterprise Challenge Fund has already created over 3,000 full-time jobs and improved market access for 140,000 smallholder farmers. The EU hopes to amplify its impact as the project moves forward.
The announcement was made during the launch of the fish farm and hatchery at Zambika Aqua Farm Limited in Kafue District, a project supported by both the EU and the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund.
The hatchery, which has the capacity to produce 18 million fingerlings annually, was officially launched by Fisheries and Livestock Minister Peter Kapala, represented by Evans Mutanuka, Director of Fisheries.
Minister Kapala emphasized that the initiative aligns with Zambia’s goal of producing 460 million fingerlings by 2025.
Zambika Aqua Farm Project Manager Danny Mubanga noted that the project has trained and empowered over 1,000 smallholder fish farmers in the aquaculture value chain.
He added that the hatchery would not only bolster food security but also create sustainable economic opportuniti
