Gov’t Applauds GART–Palabana MoU as a Boost for Livestock Development
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has hailed the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (GART) and Palabana University as a milestone for agricultural development, particularly in livestock production.
The message of congratulations from Permanent Secretary Dr Max Choombe was delivered by the Director of Human Resource and Administration, Mr Fredrick Mwila, during the signing ceremony held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka.
Dr Choombe said the partnership reflects the UPND Government’s commitment to fostering stronger collaboration within the agriculture and livestock sub-sectors.
“This event signifies the urgent need for increased partnerships to accelerate the growth of the agricultural sector. The livestock industry currently accounts for 3.2% of the national GDP and is a primary source of income for most smallholder farmers. It also contributes about 50% of rural employment. Strengthening institutions supporting this sector is therefore vital to national development,” he said.
He further highlighted Government’s goal of increasing the national cattle population from 5.1 million to 7.4 million by 2027, aligning livestock production with the country’s broader diversification and economic transformation agenda.
Dr Choombe also cited the Zambia Beef Export Project as one of the sector’s most promising initiatives. Through the establishment of animal disease-free compartments, improved compliance with international standards, and enhanced productivity, the project aims to generate US$1 billion in annual export earnings.
Despite steady progress, the PS acknowledged ongoing challenges such as livestock diseases, climate change impacts on pasture availability, and low productivity among smallholder farmers, many of whom obtain less than 5 litres of milk per cow per day, compared with 30 litres on commercial farms.
“These challenges highlight the urgent need for accelerated research and development, as well as stronger public–private partnerships. Zambia continues to face a shortage of livestock-focused research institutions, making this MoU not only welcome but necessary,” he said.
Dr Choombe commended both institutions for their long-standing contributions to national development, noting Palabana University’s historic role in dairy training and GART’s leadership in applied research for smallholder farming systems.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would produce research outputs that directly address farmers’ challenges, boosting productivity, household incomes, and overall economic growth.
“Congratulations once again to GART and Palabana University. The Ministry remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen the livestock sector for the benefit of all Zambians,” he said.
