1. Increased Private Sector Competitiveness
Despite Zambia's potential in the agricultural and
natural resources sectors, the country has been unable to register itself as a competitive
market player locally, regionally and internationally. The main constraints to agricultural
development and small-scale rural agribusiness competitiveness in the last decade have been: 1)
lack of capacity, clarity and consistency within Zambian Government to generate and implement
liberalization policies conducive to private sector-led agricultural growth; 2) poor market access
and under-developed markets that limit production; 3) inadequate sources of finance and capital; 4)
low farm and firm-level production and productivity due to inadequate provision of technical information,
limited use of modern production and value-adding technologies, and absence of business management services.
To respond to these issues, the Economic Growth Program, as part of
USAID/Zambia's Country Strategic Plan for 2004-2010, aims to contribute towards increasing
competitiveness of Zambian farmers and firms, and has adopted "Increased Private Sector
Competitiveness" as the theme of its program. Activities under the program focus on attaining
significant improvements in Zambia's competitive position within the region and internationally,
enabling Zambia to achieve trade-based rural economic growth and poverty reduction.
2. Activities and Partners
2.1. USAID Funded Projects
PROFIT (Production,
Finance and Improved Technologies) Project - CLUSA
The project’s aim is to increase smallholder
client production and productivity by reducing costs of production and,
together with private and public sectors, extend services to some 100,000
small farmers in high economic potential areas in Zambia. The project
focuses on value chains and on the development of support industries,
such as financial services and inputs. (Chief of Party: Mike Mailloux,
Tel. +260-211-251-371, mikem@profit.org.zm)
MATEP (Market Access, Trade and Enabling Policies) Project - DAI
MATEP focuses on increasing the level of Zambian agriculture
and natural resources exports into regional and international markets through overcoming policy,
tariff, non-tariff barriers to trade and forging linkages. (Chief of Party: Dr. Scott Simons, Tel. +260-211-291-569, Scott_Simons@dai.com)
FSRP (Food Security Research Project) - Michigan State University
FSRP builds capacity among agricultural sector planners to achieve improved policy making through
applied agricultural economic research, policy analysis, outreach and dialogue. (Chief of Party:
Prof. Mike Weber, Tel. +260-211- 234-539, webermi@anr.msu.edu)
Land O'Lakes
The Land O'Lakes dairy development program targets vulnerable small-scale farmers
who are taught animal husbandry and fodder crop production, and subsequently provided with one dairy
cow and veterinary services. Milk collection centers are provided with technical assistance to ensure
quality and timely sale to urban-based processors. (Chief of Party: Tim Durgan, Tel. +260-211-265-046,
tkdurgan@landolakes.com.zm)
2.2. USAID Funding To Zambian Institutions
Zambia Agribusiness Technical Assistance Center (ZATAC) - Copperbelt Economic Diversification Project
This is a public-private partnership (Global Development
Alliance), providing technical assistance and equipment to farmer business groups in a
traditional Copperbelt mining area. These groups are engaged in adding value to primary
commodities through modern farming methods such as irrigation, and small-scale processing,
as well as developing market linkages. (CEO: Likando Mukumbuta, Tel. +260-211-263-512,
lmukumbuta@zatac.org)
Zambia Agricultural
Commodity Agency (ZACA)
ZACA issues warehouse receipts against agricultural
commodities stored in warehouses, which they certify to be safe and secure. The receipts,
defining the quality and quantity of a given commodity are used as collateral (instruments
of title) in obtaining commercial loans against the stored commodities. (The Warehouse
Examiner: Tel. +260-966-862-671, zaca@zaca.com.zm)
The Agricultural Consultative Forum (ACF)
The Agricultural Consultative Forum (ACF), established in
1998, is a platform for stakeholder consultation, information sharing, networking, and
institutional capacity strengthening within the agricultural sector. Through ACF
Advisory Notes, the government is provided with key inputs for policy decisions, representing
the views of sector stakeholders. (Coordinator: Dr. Hyde Haantuba, Tel. +260-211-260-767)
For further information about the USAID/Zambia Economic
Growth program, please contact Mr. Dann Griffiths (+260-211-254-303/304/305/306 Ext. 110,
dgriffiths@usaid.gov) or Mr. Jan Nijhoff (+260-211-254-303/304/305/306 Ext. 226,
jnijhoff@usaid.gov).
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