World Bank Backs Zambia’s Push for Digital Agriculture Revolution
Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched a comprehensive review of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) system for the 2024/25 farming season, with critical backing from the World Bank’s Food Systems 2030 Trust Fund.
The review aims to evaluate the system’s effectiveness, farmer satisfaction, and its overall impact on Zambia’s agricultural sector.
The evidence gathered will guide a nationwide rollout of the e-Voucher system in the 2025/26 season, building on progress made in 74 districts where the digital input delivery mechanism was piloted.
Initial findings indicate strong results: over one million farmers were successfully verified in the Zambia Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (ZIAMIS); the program achieved a 99% redemption rate by November 2024; more than 631 agro-dealers participated—stimulating competitive input pricing; and over 5,000 seasonal private sector jobs were created.
“This survey will give us valuable insights directly from our farmers and agro-dealers,” said John Mulongoti, Permanent Secretary for Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture. “We want to ensure every farmer receives timely, efficient, and fair support.”
The review process will include field surveys across all ten provinces, ZIAMIS data analysis, and in-depth consultations with key stakeholders to assess what is working and what needs refinement.
The World Bank, a long-standing development partner in Zambia’s agriculture sector, has praised the review’s data-driven approach. “This is not just about optimizing processes—it’s about empowering Zambian farmers and enhancing national food security,” said Silvia Mauri, Senior Agriculture Specialist at the World Bank.
Both the Ministry and the World Bank emphasized that the findings will inform operational improvements, strengthen governance, improve fraud prevention, and ensure long-term financial sustainability of the program.
