CAN VERTICAL FARMING BE A VIABLE SOLUTION TO ENHANCING AFRICA'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY?

Vertical bag farming in Kenya (www.inovativedevelopment.org )

The African continent holds the largest amount of arable land in the world but according to statistics, is struggling to feed itself. The sub-saharan Africa region has the highest prevalence rate of hunger in the world (www.foodaidfoundation.org/world-hunger-statistics.html )

Worsening the situation is the fact that climate change coupled with deforestation has reduced the amount of arable land, threatening the future food and nutrition security of the continent. Efforts to balance sustainable agricultural production while protecting the environment at the same time is proving to be a growing challenge and some researchers are proposing vertical farming.

Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically staked layers.

THE STATE OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN ZAMBIA - BITTERSWEET SITUATION

60% of sugar that Zambia produces is consumed domestically 

The sugar industry in Zambia holds an untapped potential to contribute to the country’s economic growth. Within the southern African region, Zambia’s capacity to join the leaders in sugar production is becoming prominent.The sugar sub-sector is the country’s most successful non-traditional export sector. A study by the International Growth Centre (IGC) revealed that the sugar industry in Zambia generates about US$45 million in gross export revenue annually ( https://www.theigc.org/wp-content.../pdf )

The regional and international environment is conducive for the Zambian sugar industry to exploit its potential. The growth of the global population

FIELD DAYS- A NECESSARY LEARNING TOOL FOR SMALLSCALE FARMERS

Smallscale farmers can adapt the things they see and learn at Expos on a smaller scale

As the Agritech Expo opened on Thursday April 10, some small-scale farmers around the country are traveling to Chisamba, to expose themselves to the latest trends in the agricultural sector. Transcending from small-scale to medium and commercial scale farming entails keeping up-to-date practices that can increase production and productivity.

Field days are simply a series of demonstrations and knowledge-sharing activities that are focused on enhancing sustainable agriculture. They can be described as trade shows where farmers and aspiring farmers can acquaint themselves with best farming practices, new seed varieties, livestock disease control methods, new machinery and technology etc.

CELEBRATING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CONSERVATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

If empowered appropriately, women hold the key to improving food and nutrition in Zambia. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) women constitute 64% of the rural population in Zambia, and 80% of food producers.

The food sovereignty and plant genetic resources (PGRs) of a country is in the hands of women because of the role they play in the home primarily as ‘head chef’ and nutritionist. PGRs are an important component of agricultural biodiversity and are the foundation upon which food security rests.

Mr. Masiye Tembo from the National Plant Genetic Resource  Centre (NPGRC) located at the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute(ZARI), defines PGRs as the  raw material that are used in modern plant breeding which enables plant breeders to develop varieties that adapt to different environments and respond to emerging changes such as climate change.

“The success of the transformation agenda of the agricultural sector to play its role as one of the key drivers of economic growth is primarily dependent on how well plant genetic resources are managed and utilized,” Mr. Tembo said.

PGRs consist of a diversity of genetic material contained in traditional varieties and modern cultivars grown by farmers

EXPORT AGRICULTURE & ITS INFLUENCE ON FOOD SECURITY

A study on Zambia’s food security situation published by the Forum for Food Security in Southern Africa reveals that the average percentage of rural household income that is spent on food, is rising. It states that many of these rural households are finding it difficult to feed themselves (https://www.odi.org/sites.../5619.pdf ). These are households that are dependent on agriculture for their economic livelihood.

Evidence of this food insecurity is further visible in the significantly high levels of stunting in children under the age of five (about 40%) and the fact that only 59% of the Zambian population has access to safe water.