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The Zambian government has unveiled its agricultural investment plan under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIH) at the 2025 High-Level Forum held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
The plan seeks to boost productivity, promote value addition, improve nutrition, and strengthen Zambia’s food security, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by Ministry of Agriculture Principal Public Relations Officer, Balewa Zyuulu.
Presenting the Country Investment Plan for maize, soybean, aquaculture, and honey, Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Peter Kapala, reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to improving the investment climate and expanding regional trade.
Kapala said the government was exploring avenues to facilitate beef exports to Angola, with the aim of increasing the accessible population from 5.1 million to 7.4 million within two years.
He added that investment in transport and communication infrastructure would help lower costs and enhance export competitiveness.
“The Lobito Corridor will support the export of other key commodities, including surplus maize and copper minerals, leveraging Zambia’s bumper harvests to strengthen regional trade and promote economic growth,” Kapala said.
He also disclosed that the total investment sought under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative last year was US$952.8 million, of which the government contributed US$200 million, ZANACO US$23 million, and Good Nature Agro US$16 million.
“The remaining investment gap of about US$752.8 million is expected to be mobilized through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and will benefit approximately 1.97 million smallholder farmers,” he said.
Permanent Secretary for Green Economy and Environment, Dr. Douty Chibamba, outlined Zambia’s strategic advantages for investors, citing its central location in Southern Africa and access to regional markets through COMESA, SADC, AfCFTA, and the Lobito Corridor, collectively reaching more than 1.3 billion consumers.
“With a national population exceeding 20 million, Zambia offers significant opportunities for investment in agriculture, agro-processing, and related value chains,” Chibamba said.
He noted that the government’s strategy centred on sustainable agricultural transformation through mechanisation, irrigation, post-harvest management, and certification for seed replicators.
“Zambia continues to prioritise maize and soybean production with strong emphasis on mechanisation, irrigation, and post-harvest management. Certification of seed replicators ensures quality inputs,” Chibamba added.
He further highlighted honey and aquaculture as sectors with strong growth potential.
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Zambia, he said, had 61 percent forest cover, and that honey yields could increase from 7 kg to 25–30 kg per hive through improved queen bee rearing — opening high-value export opportunities.
On aquaculture, Chibamba observed that the country still imported large quantities of fish, but planned investments in pond and cage farming across Lakes Kariba, Tanganyika, Mweru, and Bangweulu would transform the sector.
“These interventions will strengthen the entire value chain, from hatcheries and nurseries to cage manufacturing and cold chain management,” he said.
Chibamba also cited ongoing private sector collaboration, including Bayer’s seed multiplication plant in Central Province and Good Nature Agro’s soybean seed facility in the Lusaka Multi-Facility Economic Zone, as examples of investments benefiting farmers and rural communities.
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative is FAO’s flagship agrifood investment forum, providing a global platform for governments to present investment plans and attract partnerships aimed at accelerating agrifood systems transformation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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