ZARI Seed Banks Reach 15,000 Farmers Across Southern and Western Provinces

More than 15,000 farmers across five districts in Southern and Western Provinces are benefiting from a network of rural household crop grain seed banks, established to strengthen food security in some of Zambia's most climate-vulnerable communities.

The seed banks, set up within existing Farmer Field Schools, form the centrepiece of a programme led by the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) that is introducing climate-smart and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices to smallholder farmers across the region.

William Funsani, ZARI's Senior Agricultural Research Officer, said the initiative is equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The programme is currently active in Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Choma, Kazungula, and Sesheke districts, where participating households are receiving targeted support through the promotion of climate-resilient crop varieties. By giving farmers access to locally stored, drought-tolerant seed stocks, the seed banks reduce dependence on external supply chains and help communities recover more quickly from poor harvests.

Officials say the Farmer Field School model has proved effective in translating research into practical, on-the-ground support, allowing communities to share knowledge and build collective resilience. ZARI says it plans to expand the programme to additional districts as funding allows.