President Hichilema Targets $1bn In Annual Beef Exports

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has set its sights on making Zambia a major beef exporter in southern Africa.

By improving animal health the government plans to grow the nation’s cattle population from 4.8 million to 6.5 million by 2026.  As 94% of cattle are owned by smallholder farmers, the proposed increase will provide them with a crucial income source, particularly in rural areas where crop yields may be unpredictable.

Government is also working on a financing model to support farmers and processors in meeting export demands as they target Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as key markets.

President Hakainde Hichilema, who is himself a major cattle farmer, praised the policy at an auction of his own bulls in Choma.

“This is a business. We are targeting as a country now to diversify our exports from metals and we’ve targeted that in a few years from now, every year, the country will be exporting $1 billion worth of beef,” the President said.

To support this aim, the government is establishing Animal Disease Free Compartments (ADFCs), where livestock are managed to prevent the spread of specific diseases,

This will not only improve the welfare of livestock but will mean that requirements for international beef exports will be met. The five pilot ADFCs are located in Chikankata, Chipata, Chisamba, Mumbawa, and Namwala, which are known for their livestock production.

ADFCs, in pursuit of growing beef exports, could create significant increases in employment opportunities and give security to smallholder farmers as they ideally will no longer have to face the threat of disease wiping out their livestock.

This strategic pivot towards the beef industry is part of a national economic diversification drive beyond mining. Focus on agriculture, particularly livestock, aims to make Zambia less reliant on fluctuations in the global commodity market and is a bold step towards a more prosperous future.