Zambian Seed Entrepreneur Empowers Women and Youth, Expands Regional Reach
Sylvia Chisangano Horemans, founder of Kamano Seed, is making waves in Zambia’s agricultural sector by empowering women and youth through her growing seed production business.
With support from the World Bank-backed Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP), Kamano Seed has expanded its reach, increasing the number of farmers supported from 800 to nearly 3,000.
Sylvia’s passion lies in uplifting women small-scale farmers by not only providing quality seeds for crops such as maize, beans, groundnuts, and soybeans but also teaching nutrition and crop diversification.
“Teaching women about nutrition is cardinal as it improves family health and leads to increased productivity,” Sylvia said. Her commitment is reflected in Kamano Seed’s predominantly female workforce.
Kamano Seed works closely with local farmers, guiding them in climate-smart agriculture practices to promote sustainable farming. Thanks to ZATP funding, the company has invested in advanced processing infrastructure—including one of Zambia’s largest seed processing machines—and expanded employment opportunities for women and youth, crucial for Zambia’s inclusive economic growth.
The ZATP, implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry with World Bank support, closed in May 2024 after delivering wide-ranging support to agribusiness SMEs across five provinces. It reached over 240,000 beneficiaries and created nearly 4,000 full-time jobs.
Kamano Seed alone created 53 permanent jobs and 426 temporary positions, with production increasing from 2,100 to 3,500 metric tons.
Kamano Seed has also extended operations beyond Zambia’s borders into the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, earning regional recognition. Sylvia aims to further expand her business footprint in Africa.
Building on this success, the follow-on project ZATP-II, active until 2028, aims to boost private sector financing, improve the business environment, and streamline cross-border trade, with goals to create 12,550 full-time jobs and benefit over 130,000 people.
Sylvia Horemans and Kamano Seed exemplify how targeted support for women and youth in agriculture can drive sustainable growth, job creation, and regional integration in Zambia and beyond.
