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The German government has donated two vehicles and assorted Information Technology (IT) equipment to Zambia’s Ministry of Agriculture under the Global Project for the Promotion of Access to Agricultural Finance for Agri-Based Enterprises in Rural Areas (GP AgFin).
The donation, facilitated through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), forms part of a broader partnership between the Zambian and German governments aimed at transforming rural agriculture and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Lusaka on Friday, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Administration, Yvonne Mpundu, expressed deep appreciation to GIZ and the German government for their continued support to Zambia’s agricultural sector.
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“This project aligns well with the government’s vision of enhancing access to finance for agri-business enterprises in rural areas,” Mpundu said.
She said: “With 59 percent of Zambia’s agricultural population living in rural areas, these interventions are vital for ensuring food security and household incomes.”
She noted that over the past decade, GIZ had worked closely with the Ministry to expand financial access for smallholder farmers in Eastern, Luapula, and Southern provinces.
The Ministry, she added, remained committed to sustaining these gains through the newly launched Farmer Financial Cycle Implementation Strategy.
Mpundu further disclosed that under the AGFIN Project, partner financial institutions had channelled over 21 million euros in private sector capital to Zambian farmers, significantly improving access to agricultural finance.
“The donated vehicles and IT equipment will greatly enhance our financial literacy outreach programs and strengthen partnerships with financial institutions to reach more farmers in rural communities,” she said.
Meanwhile, GIZ AGFIN Project Coordinator, Cornelia Ehlers, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to Zambia’s agricultural transformation through improved financial inclusion.
“We are proud of what we’ve achieved together with the Ministry over the past ten years,” Ehlers said. “As the AGFIN Project concludes in July 2025, we are eager to continue our support through successor initiatives such as CREATE and AGSYS.”
She added that strengthening rural financial systems was key to unlocking Zambia’s agricultural potential and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
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