In its effort to increase the participation of smallholder farmers in market-integrated and nutrition-sensitive value chains in Zambia, the European Union funded program has under the 4th round awarded six Zambian agri-businesses a total of EUR 2.4 million about (K45.6 million) in grants through the ENTERPRISE Zambia Challenge Fund – EZCF.
The companies have also pledged to invest EUR 2.9 million about (K55.1 million) into their projects in an effort to create market access for over 7,300 Zambian smallholder-farming households and create full time and part-time jobs, mainly for women and youths in rural areas.
The ENTERPRISE Zambia project is jointly implemented by Self Help Africa, an Irish NGO, and by Imani Development Limited from the United Kingdom and seeks to integrate 150,000 smallholder farmers and producers into the development of sustainable value chains and help them to be part of the transition towards greener and more sustainable agri-food systems. The project aims to create over 8,000 new jobs, focusing particularly on women and youth, during the coming five years.
Speaking during the award ceremony attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen said,” The Enterprise Zambia project responds to the vision stemming from Zambian comprehensive agriculture transformation support program which is part of the EU-Zambia green partnerships for sustainable recovery, growth and decent jobs.”
Urpilainen said Zambia will be best placed to access the EU market, in compliance with the New EU Regulation on Deforestation free supply chains.
Speaking at the same event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Elia Manda added “This is an exciting opportunity for Zambian agri-businesses to be innovative and contribute to smallholder farmer’s commercialisation, so they can grow more and sell more, with positive environmental and social impact.”
Meanwhile, the Zambian Government through the Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri thanked the EU delegation for the continued support to Zambia and urged the recipients to utilize the resources for the intended purpose.
Phiri said the support was truly important for the country as the economy strives to address challenges of low production which with this support he believed it was going to help the country increase productions.
The agri-businesses receiving financial support from the European Union funded programme under the fourth round are: Twala Farming, Ryli Beef and Grains, Plant Health Agri, Nokamu Enterprises, Growmore Technologies and Nash Import & Export.
The project portfolio under the fourth call will focus on crop waste compost production, crop protection and nutritional products, agri-input sales, mechanization, seed production, production of ginger and access to quality livestock inputs and advice on animal husbandry.
The agri-businesses will invest in green technologies demonstrating commercial potential. They will work with smallholders to promote organic production, biocontrol products, biodigesters, sustainable management of soils including incorporation of trees into farming systems and the use of carbon credits to provide additional sources of income to the local rural communities.
The European Union through ENTERPRISE Zambia has already committed EUR 16.8 million to 28 Zambian agri-businesses. The grant recipients focus on 11 value chains in over 70 districts for the diversification of agriculture in Zambia.
Currently, 117,412 smallholder farmers have been integrated into commercial value chains with access to inputs, ready and reliable markets for crops, livestock and fish, competitive prices, training and extension services and a total of 2,103 full-time jobs have so far been created.
