Zambia, Vietnam Partnership to Improve Farming and Food Production
Zambia is hosting a high-level delegation from Vietnam as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural transformation, knowledge exchange and practical bilateral cooperation.
The visit follows a recent trip by a Zambian delegation to Vietnam and is aimed at translating strong diplomatic ties into tangible outcomes that enhance productivity, value addition, rural incomes and food system resilience.
The programme officially commenced with a welcome dinner in Lusaka hosted by Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, alongside Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo Phiri.
The Vietnamese delegation is led by Pham Ngoc Mau and includes senior experts in agricultural policy, high-technology farming, plant production and environmental systems. Among the delegation are former Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat and other leading technical specialists.
Officials say the visit is designed to go beyond diplomatic engagements, focusing instead on practical collaboration with policymakers, researchers, farmers, processors and regulators to support Zambia’s agricultural modernisation agenda.
The delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with key institutions including the Presidential Delivery Unit, the Public-Private Dialogue Forum, the Zambia Bureau of Standards, the Zambia Development Agency and the Industrial Development Corporation.
Technical engagements will also involve stakeholders in the coffee and rice value chains, including the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, the Seed Control and Certification Institute, and the Zambia National Farmers Union. Discussions will focus on seed systems, phytosanitary standards, and improving productivity and competitiveness.
The programme further includes field visits to research sites in Chilanga, as well as provincial engagements in Mongu, Mansa and Kasama, where the delegation will interact directly with farmers, processors and local authorities.
Government officials say these visits are critical in ensuring that cooperation is grounded in real production systems and local economic opportunities.
The mission will conclude with high-level debriefings involving Ministers Musokotwane and Mtolo Phiri, aimed at identifying clear next steps and ensuring implementation of agreed outcomes.
Authorities note that agriculture remains central to Zambia’s economic transformation, linking rural livelihoods to industrial growth and national food security.
