Zambia Engages Vietnam on Strategies to Boost Agricultural Productivity
The Government of Zambia is seeking to learn from Vietnam as it intensifies efforts to raise productivity among smallholder farmers and accelerate agricultural transformation.
The move follows bilateral talks in Hanoi between Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung.
The discussions formed part of a high-level benchmarking and study visit by a Zambian delegation, supported by the World Bank Group, under the theme Agricultural Transformation and Climate-Smart Growth – Lessons from Vietnam.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr Musokotwane said the Zambian Government continues to commit significant public resources to the agricultural sector in order to strengthen food security, protect household livelihoods and support economic growth.
He noted that while Zambia recorded a historic bumper harvest during the 2024/2025 farming season, agriculture has over many years required substantial fiscal support to sustain production and assist smallholder farmers.
Dr Musokotwane said the Government is keen to understand how Vietnam has successfully improved productivity among smallholder farmers through policy reforms, farmer organisation, irrigation development, extension systems and better market coordination.
“Our objective is not only to raise yields, but also to build a more resilient, productive and commercially viable agricultural sector capable of contributing more meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Mr Mtolo Phiri reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Vietnam in order to improve productivity in strategic agricultural value chains and expand access to markets.
He said Zambia is particularly interested in learning from Vietnam’s experience in irrigation development, mechanisation, agricultural research, extension services and cooperative development.
Mr Mtolo Phiri added that agriculture remains central to Zambia’s economy and to the livelihoods of the majority of citizens, but noted that low productivity among many smallholder farmers continues to constrain the sector’s full contribution to economic growth and employment.
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Mr Hoang Trung welcomed the Zambian delegation and expressed his country’s readiness to share experiences in climate-smart agriculture, irrigation systems and agricultural value chain development.
He said Vietnam values partnerships that promote knowledge exchange aimed at strengthening food security and improving productivity among smallholder farmers.
At the same event, Nathan Belete, Country Director for the World Bank in Zambia, said the institution remains committed to supporting the country’s agricultural transformation.
Dr Belete noted that the bank is preparing the proposed Irrigated and Sustainable Agriculture for Transformation Project, which is expected to strengthen irrigation development, improve extension service delivery and create conditions for increased private sector participation in agriculture.
The Zambian delegation in Vietnam also includes senior government officials and development partners working to support the country’s broader agenda of improving productivity, strengthening climate resilience and modernising the agricultural sector.
Vietnam has often been cited as a successful example of agricultural transformation. Over the past three decades, the country has shifted from largely subsistence farming to becoming a globally competitive agricultural exporter, with exports growing from about US$14 billion in the early 2010s to more than US$50 billion in recent years.
Zambia hopes that lessons drawn from Vietnam’s experience will help empower smallholder farmers, strengthen agricultural value chains and expand the country’s agricultural export potential as part of its broader strategy for rural economic growth and inclusive national development.
