Government has applauded Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Zambia, in partnership with ADRA International and GoodOne Global, for the successful implementation of the first cohort of the Food Sovereignty Initiative for Africa (FSI), a programme designed to strengthen food security and transform agricultural productivity in Zambia.
Speaking during the first cohort graduation ceremony, a major milestone toward food sovereignty that will strengthen Zambia’s agricultural resilience and self-sufficiency for years to come, Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Director in the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Chizumba Shepande, said the initiative aligns with Zambia’s agricultural transformation agenda and guarantees long-term food security.
Mr. Phiri highlighted Government’s broader reforms, including the National Agriculture Mechanisation Strategy (Mechanisation 360 Campaign) launched in 2024, which has led to the establishment of mechanisation service centres across the country to expand access to equipment, raise productivity, and reduce labour constraints.
He added that these efforts support national production targets set by President Hakainde Hichilema, including scaling up maize, wheat and soya bean output by 2031.
The Minister further noted that the Presidential Irrigation Programme is being rolled out to promote year-round production, reduce dependence on rain-fed farming, and strengthen climate resilience areas in which FSI trainees demonstrated practical competence through water harvesting and irrigation technologies showcased during the event.
“Empowering citizens with practical agricultural skills is key to boosting household food security, increasing incomes, and reducing reliance on imports,” he said.
Also speaking at the same event, ADRA Zambia Country Director Kennedy Habasimbi expressed excitement at the successful execution of the initiative, noting that ADRA Zambia, which is part of a global network operating in over 118 countries, has worked in Zambia since 1987 across seven provinces and 27 districts.
He said ADRA’s thematic focus on sustainable livelihoods, health, education, emergency management and the environment positions the organization to support Zambia’s food sovereignty goals through innovation, partnerships and community-led solutions.
“FSI was born out of a simple but powerful vision: Africa must produce what it eats and eat what it produces and through partnerships with ADRA International, GoodOne Global, ADRA Australia and Royal Eijkelkamp, the initiative is empowering smallholder farmers with the tools and knowledge to build resilient, productive food systems,” he said.
Africa imports nearly 80 percent of the food it consumes, while exporting mainly cash crops such as cocoa and coffee.
The FSI programme seeks to reverse this imbalance by promoting proven technologies, including composite/mineral fertilizers and improved farming methods that increase vegetable and crop yields per unit area.
The three-month practical training programme, which ran from 17 November to 19 February, culminated in the graduation of 13 participants. Graduates were equipped with hands-on skills in modern agriculture, hydroponic gardening, climate-smart farming, smart water management, and clean energy applications to support sustainable, year-round food production.
