Copperbelt Stakeholders Consulted on Agricultural Law Reforms

The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), has concluded a two-day stakeholder engagement meeting in Copperbelt Province aimed at reviewing key pieces of agricultural legislation.

The delegation, led by Chief Agriculture Economist Dr Mainza Obby Nicholus, consulted on three critical laws: the Agricultural Marketing Bill of 2012, the Agricultural Credits Act No. 35 of 2010, and the Food Reserve Agency Act No. 6 of 2020. Before the deliberations began, the team paid a courtesy call on the Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary.

The discussions brought together a wide range of participants from both the public and private sectors. These included officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ministry of Education, the Provincial Administration, the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats), the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Access Bank, ZANACO, CAMCO, Provincial Agricultural Coordinators (PACOs), and various farmer unions and associations. Representatives from all districts in the province were in attendance to ensure broad-based input.

Speaking during the engagement, Dr Nicholus emphasised that the review process is being undertaken in line with the directive of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, to ensure that agricultural laws are people-centred and address current sector challenges.

Among the anticipated benefits of the review are an enhanced mandate for the Food Reserve Agency, which will strengthen its ability to manage the strategic national food reserve and safeguard food security. The reforms are also expected to boost agricultural trade through the operationalisation of the warehouse receipt system, promote greater access to affordable finance for farmers via revisions to the Agricultural Credits Act, and improve market coordination through updated marketing regulations.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to maintaining a productive, competitive, and sustainable agriculture sector by ensuring that legislation aligns with stakeholder needs and the realities of the modern market.