Accounting for almost a fifth of Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), agriculture is considered an intrinsic element in the county’s poverty alleviation strategies. Government supports and encourages agro-based industries in an effort to diversify the economy away from its reliance on copper and cobalt export earnings.

Zambia’s rich endowment of natural resources includes good arable land for both extensive and intensive cultivation of crops, with some 56 percent of the total landmass still available for agricultural production. The country also has a pleasant climate and contains around 40 percent of the water resources of the southern African region, thereby creating huge irrigation potential.

As agriculture has such a wide-ranging impact on other areas of the economy, it has been declared one of government’s priority sectors. Agricultural policy focuses on achieving accelerated growth and competitiveness through crop diversification and the opening up of new agricultural production areas. The sector is also important as a source of raw materials to supply the manufacturing industry, thereby adding value to primary produce. Furthermore, in addition to being able to provide food security, agriculture is a major employer and thus performs a vital role in income creation and poverty reduction.

Despite the country’s vast potential, currently only about one sixth of total arable land is under cultivation, mostly by small-scale farmers, and commercial agriculture tends to be confined to a small number of large and medium-size farms. Maize is Zambia’s dominant food crop and is produced by the majority of smallholder farms, with larger agricultural concerns given over to cash crops such as cotton, sugar and tobacco. While small-scale production for subsistence is widespread, some of the smaller farms focus on both food and cash crops.

Zambia’s crop production is largely rainfall dependent with a distinct production season running from November to April. Rainfall performance is the major determinant of crop performance in any given year.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Of all of Zambia’s economic sectors, agriculture is thought to hold the most promise for growth and development, as well as the potential to reap significant foreign exchange earnings. Expanding local, regional and international markets require production to be stepped up to meet the growing demand. This calls for substantial private sector investment to transform uncultivated arable land, newly privatised state land and traditionally cultivated farmlands into productive commercial concerns.

Sharing borders with eight other countries, Zambia is centrally situated as a gateway to both southern and central Africa, where it is strategically placed to exploit the growing regional markets of SADC and COMESA. Rail and road infrastructure connects Zambia to regional markets as well as ports in Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. International air cargo services are also utilised, with Lusaka International Airport serving as a hub to connect Zambian products to global markets