Agriculture – Kawambwa Town Council

Her honour the vice president of the Republic of Zambia and the minister of Agriculture.

CASSAVA FIELD

Kawambwa tea

OUR AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS IN KAWAMBWA DISTRICT

About Us

Mandate

Services

About Us

Mandate

Services

Departmental Units

Edit

The Technical Services Branch is responsible for providing irrigation services, land husbandry and agricultural mechanisation so as to contribute to increased food production through the application of economically sustainable technologies as well as enhancing sustained use of agricultural land resource base.

Edit

This Unit is responsible for the provision of Crop Production Technologies.

It serves as an interface between agricultural research and extension services to the lowest level of contact with the farmers, as well as with other relevant organisations, institutions and key stakeholders on crop production matters.

The Unit comprises three main Sections each responsible for specific areas of crop production as follows:-

Field Crops Agronomy Section;
Tree Crops Section; and
Vegetables and Floriculture Section.

Edit

The Food and Nutrition Unit is headed by a Chief Food and Nutrition Officer who facilitates the provision of technical services and guidance to the farming community especially women in areas of nutrition and food nutritive value, food utilisation, household food processing, preservation and storage in order to improve knowledge and skills.

Edit

The Agricultural Advisory Services Unit facilitates timely dissemination of relevant agricultural extension information relating to activities such as crops production, farm management, extension methodology, food and nutrition to enable farmers make enlightened agricultural decisions.

Additionally, the Unit facilitates the provision of technical services and guidance to the farming community in order to increase production and productivity.

MID YEAR REPORT - 2025

Kawambwa District is organized into six key agricultural blocks – Kawambwa Central, Munkanta, Luena, Pambashe, Chibote, and Musungu – which are further subdivided into 43 operational agricultural camps.

Between January and July, the district’s agricultural department focused on several core activities.

Farmer training sessions were conducted to enhance skills and knowledge among local farmers.

Regular field visits allowed agricultural officers to offer guidance and support, while field days and agricultural shows provided platforms for farmers to share best practices, showcase technologies, and exchange hands-on skills. These events aimed to promote good agronomic practices among small-scale farmers.

Additionally, post-harvest training sessions were organized to teach farmers effective methods for preserving their yields, reducing losses, and maintaining produce quality.

During this period, crops such as beans, maize, and groundnuts were in their vegetative stages and harvesting phases.

The district also saw a gradual increase in the production of horticultural crops like rape, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, tomatoes, and onions. However, these crops faced challenges from pests and diseases, notably Tuta Absoluta, aphids, whiteflies, and other sucking insects.

The Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) is a loan program designed to support farmers, with components including crop production and irrigation. In the 2024/2025 agricultural season:

SAFF Loan Performance:

Applications Received: Over 700 smallholder farmers applied under the crop production facility.

Successful Applications: 217 farmers had their applications approved by the end of the first quarter.

Broader View of Performance:

FISP Inputs: 12,498 farmers received inputs for the 2024/2025 agricultural season.

SAFF Loans: 217 farmers accessed SAFF loans for the 2024/2025 agricultural season.

The SAFF program offers flexible loan options with amounts up to ZMW 500,000 for agricultural needs, concessional interest rates between 14% and 16%, and loan repayment periods ranging from 1 to 3 years. The Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with multiple banks to make farming mechanization affordable under SAFF. Some of the participating banks include : NATSAVE, INDO and ZANACO.

This initiative supports smallholder farmers in increasing productivity and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.