Zambia unveils crop diversification plan to enhance food security, strengthen household incomes

The government has launched the National Crop Diversification Strategy (NCDS) to promote crop diversity, enhance household food and nutrition security, and increase household incomes.

Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo, Phiri said the launch marked a significant milestone in Zambia’s path toward sustainable agriculture and rural development.

He made the remarks on Thursday in Lusaka during the launch at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Research and Administrative Hub.

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“Our crop diversification strategy is built on the understanding that a single-crop economy is vulnerable to climate change, market fluctuations, and soil degradation,” Mtolo stated.

He restated government’s commitment to supporting local farmers from seed to market, offering training, credit and market access to ensure their success.

The Minister further highlighted that crop diversification was a critical step towards building a sustainable, resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.

At the same event, USAID Zambia Director for Economic Development and Environment, Michelle Corzine, reiterated United States’ commitment to supporting Zambia through the current drought crisis and its impacts on smallholder and commercial farmers, as well as value-chain businesses in the agriculture sector.

“The United States stands with Zambia to build a more climate-smart approach to food security driven by private-sector reforms,” Corzine said, adding that crop diversification was central to the U.S. government’s new Global Food Security Strategy country plan for Zambia.

She also emphasized investments in drought-tolerant seeds, improved water management practices and advanced weather forecasting as key elements of this approach.

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