Our Activities

CPTM, represented by two of its directors, visited Lusaka, Zambia in May 2024. The purpose of the visit was to explore approaches which might improve the country’s agricultural productivity, currently characterised by low yields especially amongst small-holder farmers. The lessons learnt from this investigation, we believe, are also relevant for other countries in a similar predicament.

The visit established that many issues have bedevilled Smallholder operations where their numbers, dispersion and contribution to national production represents the major potential for uplift but also the major challenge.

The government’s Farmer’s Input Substitution Programme (FISP) currently subsidizes seed and fertiliser for over 1,000,000 farmers who cultivate one to two hectares each. These farmers and their families, usually produce 80% or about 3,000,000 tonnes of the country’s maize per year and similar amounts of other crops. However, the recent El Nino has reduced their maize production substantially to around 1,000,000 tonnes and depleted food stocks. This has forced Zambia to import food from elsewhere.

These farmers also face financial difficulties and drought induced low soil moisture levels that could affect their next season, which starts with the rains at the end of October. The most significant issue, however, is that the usual 3,000,000 tonnes on around 2 million hectares equates to an average maize yield of 1.7 tonnes per hectare amongst small holder farmers. This is only 15 – 20% of the 8-11 tonnes per hectare yield commercial farmers ordinarily achieve.

Below are the main challenges for agricultural productivity uncovered from the interactions during our visit and recommendations on how these can be best averted:

1. A major issue is ‘acidity’ or low soil pH which is endemic in much of Zambia and is exacerbated by over-cropping of land.

Many crops cannot use the fertilizer benefit to grow well in acidic soils.In this situation, the addition of lime is essential to improve soil quality and produce good yields. Research has long proven and is widely accepted in Zambian formal agriculture] that adding one tonne of lime per hectare can increase yields significantly and keep them high with regular liming. Although it can be the quickest way to improve soil quality, lime is bulky and seen as an extra expense.

CPTM Recommendation: That government explores options for distributing lime to smallholder farmers as a FISP input. For example, transport outwards on the empty trucks going to collect the crop could be used to ferry lime to farmers in time for spreading well ahead of planting.

2. From the information we gathered, FISP currently issues 1 standard fertilizer and seed type which may compromise yields where they are not matched to the soil profile and where the crop growth is compromised by stressed soil conditions especially if not mulched or interplanted to cover crops.

CPTM Recommendation: Adjust FISP to provide regionally appropriate inputs suited to specific soil & environmental conditions.

3. Smallholders constantly ‘overstretch and underproduce’.

In their eagerness to grow ‘more’, some small-scale farmers sow too big an area with the limited seed and fertiliser package. As a result, they have poor harvests.

CPTM Recommendation: Revise FISP to incorporate the Pfumvudza process, which includes soil testing and liming.

4. The Government Extension Services are supposed to help farmers with the best practices, but they face challenges including under-staffing, long distances and poor facilities in the field. This leads to a huge gap in the performance of the smallholders.

CPTM Recommendation: Utilize smartphone based digital technology with bi-directional communication to enhance operations. This would improve information flow, standards and ability to manage.
Also, encourage linkages between Commercial and Small-holder farmers through ‘hub and spoke’ arrangements where established commercial farmers can provide technical assistance to surrounding small-holder farmers.

CPTM thinks that the above suggestions can be implemented quickly before the next planting season begins. CPTM also thinks that a more rapid growth in productivity can be achieved in the medium and long term by using technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning and applying them to areas like seed development, agronomic practice and the delivery of extension services. These issues require discussion, cooperation and management to make them happen. To start this process, CPTM supports the hosting of a a National Dialogue on this subject with the aim of creating a common vision towards ensuring a secure long-term food future for Zambia.

1 In Mkushi in the recent drought, a test on adjacent 1-hectare plots with standard inputs versus a limed, matched fertiliser/seed and mulching method, produced yields of 360 kilos maize versus 4 tonnes; that is an 11:1 difference. In a normal season the test plot could have produced over 10 tonnes per hectare compared to the 1.7 tonnes currently produced. The amount of lime recommended is 1 tonne per hectare.

2 Pfumvudza plots are known to produce more than 650 kgs of maize over 625 square meters. This equates to more than 5 times the average Smallholder yield.

3 CPTM has established that at least one operation in Mkushi, though small in smallholder numbers, sets out a basic format to support, increase and promote the concept.