Prior to 1991, agricultural policy was characterized by government controls through parastatals, cooperatives and other government-supported institutions to deliver agricultural services and, to some extent, direct production of commodities. In 1992, the government embarked on agricultural policy reforms as part of the economic structural adjustment program (SAP). The main focus of the policy reforms was to liberalize the agricultural sector and to promote private sector development and participation in the production and distribution of agricultural goods and services. Agricultural policy endeavored to create an enabling environment for private sector participation through measures such as withdrawal of direct government involvement in production, marketing and distribution of inputs and produce, privatization of parastatal companies, elimination of price controls and direct subsidies in the sector.
The policy objectives for the sector were:
From 1995 to 2001, the main vehicle for the implementation of these policy objectives in agriculture was the Agriculture Sector Investment Program (ASIP) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF). ASIP adopted a holistic approach to provide improved and sustainable services to the sector through efficient use of resources. The major underlying assumption was that all government and donor resources would be pooled into a “basket funding” for the various ASIP activities. The strategies for achieving the objectives of ASIP focused on enhancing production through free market development, reduction of government role in commercial activities, and provision of efficient public services.
The interventions of ASIP were organized around the following sub-programs: Extension, Irrigation, Research, Agriculture Training, Animal Production and Health, Agriculture Finance, Marketing and Trade, Seeds, New Product Development, Farm Power and Mechanization, Policy and Planning, Standards, and the Rural Investment Fund. These sub-programs set the outline of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) during the last five years. Consequently, the ministry was restructured to meet the objectives of the program. During this period the program scored a number of successes and recorded some failures. (These are outlined in the GRZ/MAFF ACP document of November 2001).
Government policy with the inauguration of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa has shifted decisively in favour of agriculture. In this respect government aims to make Zambian agriculture competitive and diversified away from maize. The government also aims to make the private sector in particular through the out grower schemes to have a strong role in the development process of the Zambian agriculture. It is policy to have Zambian agriculture science and technology led. In his speech on the occasion of the opening of the first session of the 2002 Parliament, President Mwanawasa underscored his Government’s vision on agriculture. He emphasised the need for adoption of farming practices, which are both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Article By Muna Hantuba the Economics Association Of Zambia President.
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Need to contact somebody in conection with maize and wheat imports to Zambia
how government help agricuture sector to sell there products
I believe the current policy in place is really enabling for farmers to achieve their maximum potential as regards to crop production. If only more effort and resources can be put in place to promote local produce (market research which is not limited to zambia alone), we would definately turn around our economy!
I believe that the Ministry of Agric is doing the best it can do in its new framework of policy reform. however,it is of importance that we take note of the loopholes that are involved in this structure first before we can fully applaude its efforts. unfortunate to say but our country does not have a strong base to support these reforms. not sounding negative but there is need for a check in our taxation policy on the agricutral sector. the fact that we can import cheap foodstuffs from our neigbours is just saddening. this then contradicts the purpose of encouraging the private sector in the first place. since people are able to buy imported food at a relative price it becomes more convinent for them to buy the imported food. we all know that consumers would rather trust commodities from another country than their own. with this i think the minisry should also consider a tariff increase on imported goods/foodstuffs so that we can encourage our growing private sector. the companies that deal with food stuffs outside could at their discration come and invest in the country however there should be strict grounds for cases of reperation.
What was the outcome of the trials concerning winter maize growing? Was this not a good idea to try other seasonal crops that were to help curtail food shortages? As of today taking advantage of world food shortages may we need to pump more money into research since we have plent idle arable lands.
just how much is the ministry of agric doing to mechanize farming in Zambia? i think a tech-based agriculture system is the way forward in improving the agric situation in this country. lands are lying idle almost everywhere in the country, a policy to attract more foreign investment in the agric sector is of urgent need
i think farming stands out to be the best way to improve the economy of our people. am a fourth year student doing computer science and am doing a project to help farming i our country