ZAMBIA

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Zambia’s agriculture sector provides the
main support for the rural economy. This
assertion is based on the fact that about forty
nine percent of the Zambian population depends
on agriculture, primarily through smallholder
production for their livelihoods and employment
(CSO, 2014). Notwithstanding this fact, in 2015
the sector contributed 8.5 percent to the GDP
and approximately 9.6 percent of national export
earnings (CSO, 2015; World Bank, 2016). The
potential for agricultural growth in Zambia is
staggering. With over 750,000 km 2 of land,
massive endowments in surface and sub-surface
water resources, and a population density of just
19.24 people per km 2 , Zambia is uniquely blessed
with the natural endowments to become the
breadbasket of the southern and central African
region (Figure 1).
In the early stages of development, the growth
of the agricultural sector is key for achieving
development objectives (Diao et al., 2010).
Therefore, as a developing country, growth in the
agricultural sector is the clearest avenue through
which sustainable economic growth and poverty
reduction can be achieved in Zambia.
Figure 1: Rainfall, Soil, and Crop Suitability by Agro-Ecological Region
Source: Author’s illustration using data from Ministry of Agriculture