AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Despite being the most agriculture-based country in the Africa, Zambia does not produce enough food to feed her people. There are a variety of reasons for this problem, notably 's high rate of population growth, the loss of farm labour due to widespread movement of workers from rural areas to urban areas, the economic priority given to the production of export crops, and a general lack of adequate investment in modern agricultural technology. Many n regions must import food staples and require food aid.
Zambia's most important export crops are coffee, cotton, peanuts, tobacco, and sisal. Major food subsistence crops include maize, rice, millet, and cassava. Cattle, sheep, and goats are also important sources of protein.
Although some three-fifths of all cultivated land is used for subsistence agriculture, commercial or cash-crop farming is common in all parts of the Zambia. Foodstuffs are grown for local urban markets, but coffee, cotton, peanut oil, and tobacco are grown by ns for export.
Way forward
Zambia urgently needs to develop a deliberate agricultural development programme. Here are some of the views. The ZANC is geared to transform the agricultural & forestry sectors so that it plans a major role in the in the development of the country. The objectives in the agriculture, food, rural development and forestry areas shall be:
- Improved efficiency of production
- Promotion of farming in harmony with the environment
- Diversification of on-farm production
- Development of the non-farm rural sectors
- Development of the forestry sector
- Income maintenance in less-favoured areas
With the rural regrouping project, the peasant farming communities would be organised and managed into farming cooperative units with the following:
- Cooperative units comprising thousands of families registered under one unit, working together as a self sufficient group in a highly accessible area adequately provided with power, water and other implements
- The government supported farming scheme empowering peasant farmers to grow cash crops in addition to subsistence farming through integrating the rural poor units into the market economy and providing them with better access to export markets
- The establishment of supportive policies such us offering of subsidy or free medical schemes to highly productive units per given farming year; or scholarship package for children and adults of the unit according to the minimum production percentage given for eligibility for the same (this is meant to curb problems of rural children finances of education as well as reduction of poverty)
- Development of massive small scale industrial projects in terms of food processing, packaging, marketing, etc. thus developing into an exporter of finished agricultural products
- The introduction of an all year round farming system as opposed to traditional subsistence farming by establishing small-scale irrigation facilities, improved water management, and information exchange
- Increase in government participation in agriculture through establishment of n owned Agricultural Bank providing loan schemes, grants and other financial assistance to the farming units or established commercial farmers
- Development of agricultural science and technology
- Livestock management scheme structured to reduce overgrazing, increase veterinary services, and sustainable husbandry.
- Put in place policies governing the trade forestry products including timber, honey, fruit, herbs etc.
- Establish forestry processing industries to encourage export of finished goods.
- Increase ventures for domestic wood consumption in terms of heavy manufacturing industries such as ship building, real estate, etc.
General Agricultural Structural Improvement
The initial measure shall contain three sub-measures:
1. Installation Aid for Young Farmers: This scheme aims to encourage the earlier transfer of farms to young farmers who will be able to adapt to the challenge of developing and broadening their farming activities and thus contribute to the maintenance of a viable rural community. It is open to farmers under 35 years of age at the time of first setting up who:
- Practice farming as their main occupation on land owned and/or held on a long-term lease.
- Fulfil at the time of first setting up on the farm or at least within two years of that date, certain requirements regarding occupational skills.
- Are set up on the farm with requirement of one-man work unit.
- Have obtained full title/leasehold to the land.
2. Producer Groups: Introduce and develop a Fund Scheme to assist the formation of producer groups as an encouragement to farmers to join together in a united effort to promote and market their produce. Applications may be made by groups representing the sheep meat, cereals, beef, potatoes, pig meat, farmhouse cheese, live plants and horticultural products and live farmed deer sectors.
The scheme will provide for grant aid towards the cost of formation and operating expenses of producers groups with aid levels of up to 5% of the value of the produce marketed through the group.
3. Improvement of Cattle Breeding Infrastructures: This sub-measure shall provide support for the establishment of a National Cattle Breeding Organisation and the integration and co-ordination of the various cattle breeding activities. This organisation will be representative of all the bodies involved in cattle breeding. Breeding policy and broad strategy and plans for implementation of policy will be decided by the organisation. In addition, it will co-ordinate and support the activities of the various bodies. Standardised recording and testing procedures will be followed and data will be handled and processed in a co-ordinated and integrated way through a new National Cattle Breeding Database/Network.
On Farm Investment
The objective of the measures shall be to promote higher levels of efficiency, quality and competitiveness in the agricultural sector together with environmental improvements.
The initial measure contains four sub-measures:
Farm Improvement Programme: This scheme shall provide capital grants to full-time farmers mainly in respect of farm buildings and farm waste facilities to improve the efficiency and profitability of their holdings.
The scheme shall be confined to full-time farmers with training and/or experience whose income per man work unit is below $10,000 and who carries out the investments under a government initiated farm plan agreement (to be set up).
Improvement of Animal Welfare Standards: This scheme will enable farmers to meet new animal housing welfare standards in cattle, pigs and poultry areas.
Aid will be payable only to applicants whose facilities are already not up to standard, and whose gross off-farm income is under $10,000.
- Improvement of Dairy Hygiene Standards: This scheme aims to help dairy farmers fund the necessary investment to bring their on-farm facilities up to the standards to be set by a new government initiated Agricultural Milk Hygiene Directive. Aid levels of up to 60% shall be available depending on the size of the applicant's quota excluding quota purchased in the last three years. It is geared towards the needs of smaller farmers with the aim of encouraging the maximum number to remain on milk production.
Aid is available only to applicants whose facilities are not already up to standard, and whose gross off-farm income is under $10,000. Eligible investments include upgrading the dairy, the milking premises, cow kraals and isolation facilities.
- Control of Farm Pollution: The objective of this scheme is to assist farmers, particularly small farmers, to reduce farmyard related pollution and thus contribute to protection of the environment. Grant aid of up to 60% for small and medium category farmers and up to 30% for larger farmers is given for the construction of farm waste storage facilities and basic winter housing for animals. Aid is given only to applicants whose gross off-farm income is under $10,000.
Farm Diversification
This initial measure contains 7 sub-measures:
- Housing/Handling Facilities for Alternative Enterprises: This scheme shall provide grant aid for farmers and rural dwellers for housing/handling facilities for horses, deer, goats, rabbits, greyhounds and other species where a specific need is identified. The aim is to encourage farmers to develop non-quota enterprises as an alternative to traditional farming produce.
Grant rates are 50% in less-favoured areas and 40% in the rest of the country. The investment ceilings for grant aid shall be $5,000 or more depending on cases.
- Development of the Horse Industry: As part of a development plan covering all aspects of the non-thoroughbred horse industry, grant aid to encourage and assist in the breeding, production and performance testing of quality sport, farming and police horses will be available under schemes to be developed such as:
a) Quality Stallion Incentive Scheme.
b) Quality Mare Incentive Scheme.
c) Stallion Performance Testing Incentive Schemes.
d) Farriery Project.
e) Studbook Establishment and Development Scheme.
f) Blood Typing Programme.
g) Marketing and Promotion (Horse Board).
- Development of the Greyhound/canine Industry: A scheme of grant aid will be available to encourage an improvement in the quality and range of greyhound breeding and to assist in the promotion of the sector nationally and the marketing of farm, police, track greyhounds produced. The scheme will be targeted at greyhound breeders, trainers and rearers and other farmers or rural dwellers.
The aim is to promote Greyhound breeding and production as an alternative farm enterprise.
- Horticulture and Legumes: Grant aid is available to assist horticulture and edible legumes production and market products where there is potential for long term development and viability at the rate of up to 50% in the Less-Favoured Areas and 40% elsewhere on approved investments.
The scheme will grant aid farmers and producers to:
a) Provide additional and improved storage, handling, grading and packaging facilities.
b) Improve quality of produce.
c) Develop new product lines.
- Development of Organic Farming: The objective of this scheme is to ensure a regular supply of organic produce to the market by the development of organic co-operatives/groups /companies.
Grant aid of 50% is available to farmers, groups, companies or co-operatives for the provision of facilities for grading, packing, storage and distribution of organic produce.
Grant aid of 70% is available to recognised bodies such as those aimed at marketing and promotion in support of organic farming.
- Services in Rural Areas: Under this scheme, funding is made available to the National Farm Relief Services for the employment of Agricultural Development Officers with a view to generation of new jobs through expansion of the provision of agricultural services to farmers.
Compensatory Headage Allowances
The objective of these schemes is to provide a reasonable level of income for farmers where natural production conditions are least favourable so as to conserve the countryside by the prevention of further depopulation of rural areas. Compensatory allowances are payable to farmers for the keeping of cattle, sheep and goats.
Advisory Services
The establishment of Agriculture and Food Development Authority shall provide advisory services in two government funded areas:
a. A Farm Viability Service which deals specifically with small farmers, especially those with viability problems
b. A Rural Enterprise Scheme which provides an integrated advisory and promotional programme for rural people, aimed at diversification of farm production, establishment of alternative enterprises and other rural businesses and the initiation of area-based rural development programmes.
Research
This is divided into two sub-measures:
a. Research in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.
b. Research Stimulus Fund.
This measure will be operated by The Agriculture and Food Development Authority.
Human Resources
This comprises two sub-measures:
a. General Training for Agriculture and Rural Development Training courses, both full-time and part-time are offered to prospective farmers, established farmers, rural dwellers and women. Courses are undertaken by UNZA, NRDC and vocational training colleges, etc.
b. Training for the Horse Industry at a yet to be established Equine Institute. It will run continuing education programmes to certificate and diploma levels. The programme will cater for wide range farmers, breeders and other rural dwellers involved in the industry that require additional education and training.
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