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Zambia to mechanize small farms by 2027
Zambia has initiated a comprehensive campaign named “360 Ulimi Okwana” aimed at mechanizing 500,000 hectares of small-holder farmers’ land by 2027. This is aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security across the nation.
President Hakainde Hichilema announced the launch of the campaign. This will be overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture. Further, he said that the government is planning to establish up to six regional Mechanisation Centers of Excellence in collaboration with the private sector and cooperating partners, with one center slated for construction this year and three more by 2025.
The president also highlighted the expansion of the Sustainable Agriculture Facility Credit Window to facilitate access to finance for agricultural mechanization equipment, livestock, and fisheries.This programme will be further highlighted at the 2024 National Agriculture Show, which will be geared towards the targeted smallholder farmers through the Smallholder Farmers Agricultural Mechanisation Forum.
The launch of the “360 Ulimi Okwana” campaign signals a significant step towards modernizing Zambia’s agriculture sector, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and empowering small-holder farmers.
Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo who was also present at the launch ceremony disclosed plans to construct a center of excellence in each province, equipped with a range of machinery to demonstrate their utilization. Additionally, six centers will be established in each district, where equipment will be available for hire by farmers, the minister added.
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The implementation of Mechanise 360 Ulimi Okwana via Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Support Programme(CATSP) outlines key steps being taken by the New Dawn government to meet the current needs within the agriculture sector and delivering modernisation and the empowerment of smallholder farmers within Zambia. Food security is a priority intervention for the President and the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), with the aim to produce 1 million tonnes of wheat and soybeans and 10 million tonnes of maize annually by 2027.
