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CHINA - ZAMBIA PARTNERSHIP-A GAME CHANGER IN EXPANDING ZAMBIA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Annie Mulenga
22 Mar, 2025

OVER the years, farming has evolved from traditional to modernised ways of farming in Zambia to enhance production. This is evidenced by the Government’s acceleration of various initiatives and strategic relationships in mechanising smallholder farmers aimed at increasing productivity. The Mechanise 360 Ulimi Okwana, Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Programme (CATSP), Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems Ih0an Zambia (SIFAZ) project, and National Agriculture Mechanisation Steering Committee are some of the initiatives the government has put in place to ensure increased efficiency, reduced labour, enhanced crop yield and quality, increased food security, and job creation through mechanization. China is one of the countries with whom the Government of Zambia has had a long-standing relationship since 1964. China’s contributions to Zambia’s well-being are evident from the Preferential loans for the development of Zambia’s agricultural infrastructure projects, such as nine large food tanks and more than 1,000 bore holes in areas, as a response to water and food storage, training of 500 Zambian agricultural professionals as part of capacity building in the agricultural sector. Currently, about 20 Chinese companies are investing in Zambia’s agricultural sector and involved in planting more than 10,000 hectares of land. Further, 1,870 tonnes of rice was shipped from China to Zambia as emergency humanitarian assistance and the site selection for the construction of three more milling plants, on top of the existing three in Lusaka, Monze and Mpika is about to be constructed this year. To affirm China’s commitment to help mechanise and modernise Zambia’s agriculture sector, Charge’ De’ Affaires Sheng Wang said, China still upholds the consensus on sharing development opportunities and joining hands to push forward the modernisation of their respective countries, that was reached between China and Zambia through their Heads of State, President Xi Jinping, and President Hakainde Hichilema, respectively. This was during a visit by President Hichilema to China where he attended the Beijing Summit Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). As a reflection of the government’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties, aimed at boosting the agricultural sector through mechanisation, China has donated five state-of-the- art drones valued at US$48,500 to the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture. Mr Wang Sheng made the donation at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) at Mount Makulu Research Station in Chilanga recently. The event was attended by all directors from the Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) and other stakeholders. “China is optimistic about the prospects for Chinese agricultural investments in Zambia and is ready to work with the Zambian government to make use of the FOCAC platform to promote more joint agricultural projects and facilitate the export of more Zambian agricultural products to China, for mutual benefits,” Mr Sheng Wang said. Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo, who was on hand to receive the donation, appreciated the effort of the Chinese government. The donation is a full package which includes training of drone training operating officers. Mr Mtolo explained the training covered drone infrastructure and assembly, computer-based drone simulation training, introduction to remote control and aircraft components, field simulation drills and test flights, battery management and replacement, mapping, autonomous drone operation and spraying techniques. “The donation of the drones marked a fundamental moment in the government’s collective journey to modernise Agriculture in Zambia, as this initiative supports the government’s ambition of implementing agricultural mechanisation to promote productivity among farmers,” he added. Mr Mtolo disclosed that the drones will be distributed to Eastern, Central, and Southern provinces in service centres, making them readily available for hiring by farmers. “I wish to request that we use the officers trained by our colleagues as trainers for extension officers and farmers,” Mr Mtolo said. He assured the Chinese government of the commitment of the Zambian government to strengthen the bilateral partnerships that exist between the two countries, emphasizing on the extension of the skill in order to benefit farmers by contributing to knowledge transfer on crop management and productivity. One of the trained officers, Joseph Cheelo, Principal Agricultural Specialist under Land Management and Conservational farming under the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the donated drones are used for plant protection by spraying different insecticides and herbicides and they assure excessive reduction of manual labour. “The drones can be used to spray seven hectares per hour, thereby showing efficiency with reduced labour,” Mr Cheelo said. Clearly, Zambia has been highly strategic in maintaining the long-standing partnership between these two countries and has been intentional in rebuilding the trust that has been in existence since 1964. China has not only proved helpful in the agriculture sector, but in all other key sectors of Zambia’s economy, such as; the financial, tourism, mining, and energy sectors, including manufacturing and infrastructure development. With this partnership, Zambia is expected to have a holistic growth and be the largest producer of different agricultural products in Southern Africa and beyond. -NAIS