Zambia Overhauls Farm Block Strategy to Accelerate Agricultural Growth

Zambia is overhauling its Farm Block Development Strategy as the Government seeks to accelerate implementation of one of its flagship agricultural programmes and boost domestic food production.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Agriculture, Chizumba Shepande, said a revised strategy would address longstanding implementation challenges that have slowed progress and prevented the programme from achieving its intended objectives.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Chilanga, Shepande said the review would provide a clearer framework for delivering the Farm Block Development Programme. He added that removing existing bottlenecks would be essential if Zambia is to meet its production targets of 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans and 1 million metric tonnes of wheat.

World Bank Senior Agriculture Specialist Silvia Mauri said a robust investment plan should form a central component of the new strategy, highlighting the importance of attracting capital to support large-scale agricultural development.

Coillard Hamusimbi, Director of Food, Agriculture and Research at KUDU Consulting, said policy gaps affecting implementation also need to be addressed to ensure the programme delivers its intended economic and agricultural benefits.