INCLUSIVE GROWTH -AN AVENUE FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT By Natasha Mhango

Robertson Tembo -Chairperson of the Copperbelt Organic Honey Cooperative which is a beneficiary of one of the ZATP grants 

The recently held Zambia International Trade Fair was conducted under the theme Inclusive Growth through Entrepreneurship. As Africa continues to be a net importer of agricultural products despite the continent possessing around 60% of arable land, one of the most plausible solution is to make agribusiness more inclusive to include the main producers ie. small scale farmers.

However, access to market continues to be a grave challenge for most small scale farmers in Zambia; and yet it is the key with which farmers can unlock the potential of their agricultural investments.

The theme for the 2019 ZITF compels many to question what can be done to enable the growth of agribusiness which is inclusive and creates an environment where access to credit for small scale farmers is also a significant impediment.

Some of the key elements of inclusive growth include: