Zambia and Brazil Forge High-Tech Agricultural Alliance
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has signed a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil aimed at enhancing cooperation in agriculture, livestock, and biofuels development.
The agreement was signed by Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Reuben Mtolo, and Brazil’s Vice Minister of Agriculture for International Relations, Sr. Luis Rua. This MoU marks a strategic milestone in Zambia’s drive to modernize and diversify its agricultural sector through international partnerships.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister Mtolo described the MoU as a significant step in the two countries’ shared vision to transform agricultural systems and improve livelihoods. He said the partnership formalizes cooperation between Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply.
He emphasized that Zambia seeks to leverage Brazil’s expertise in tropical agriculture to drive innovation and knowledge exchange that will raise productivity, enhance food security, and empower smallholder farmers.
The MoU outlines wide-ranging areas of collaboration. These include livestock development, animal health, fisheries, aquaculture, dairy, horticulture, biofuel feedstock production, land management, mechanization, crop production, and food safety. It also facilitates exchange of technologies and expertise in genetic improvement, seed systems, and biofuels, along with training programs, seminars, and study tours for experts and professionals from both countries.
Zambia and Brazil will also engage in joint research on crops and aquaculture, share technical documentation, and collaborate in building agricultural infrastructure such as pre- and post-harvest facilities. The MoU promotes private sector involvement through joint ventures and market development, while encouraging trade through missions, agricultural fairs, and creating favorable conditions for the import and export of agricultural products.
To ensure effective implementation, a Joint Committee will be established to plan, monitor, and evaluate activities under the agreement, and provide policy recommendations. The MoU includes provisions to protect intellectual property rights arising from joint initiatives, in accordance with national and international laws.
Each country will bear its own costs for activities unless otherwise agreed, and the agreement will remain in force for an initial three years, renewable automatically unless terminated with six months’ notice.
Minister Mtolo expressed deep appreciation for Brazil’s longstanding support to Africa’s agricultural transformation and reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations. “We are planting seeds of cooperation and solidarity that will bear fruits of shared prosperity for generations to come,” he said.
The signing ceremony also coincides with Zambia’s ongoing engagements in Brazil, where Minister Mtolo and his counterpart from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, are holding high-level discussions aimed at developing an agriculture master plan under the Lobito Railway Development Corridor.
The ministers are accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Kusobile Kamwambi, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit; Mulele Maketo Mulele, Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance; Ambassador Glyne Michelo; Andrew Chipwende, Director General of the Public-Private Dialogue Forum; Dr. Chizumba Shepande, Director of Agriculture Development and Research; Dr. Ndashe Philimon Kapalu, Agriculture Research Scientist; and Silvia Giorgia Mauri, Senior Agriculture Specialist at the World Bank Country Office in Zambia.
