Kalabo loses 68k cashew trees

Kalabo District recorded a 60% survival rate for cashew seedlings delivered under the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP) since 2021, with late rains and weak market linkages blamed for the losses, District Agriculture Coordinator Milimo Mudenda has said.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times, District Agriculture Coordinator Milimo Mudenda said Kalabo planted 170,699 cashew seedlings in 2022, but only 102,418 trees were recorded in 2026. “Poor and uneven distribution of rainfall affected crop establishment,” Mudenda said.

 He added that late delivery and planting of seedlings also contributed to the failure rate. “Poor market linkage made farmers lose hope in management of the crop,” Mudenda explained. Kalabo has 1,751 cashew farmers on record, with an average age of 43 years. The average plantation size is 1 hectare.

Mudenda said cashew farming remains viable but only if farmers integrate it with short-term value crops. “The saddest part is our farmers belong to the low-income bracket. Waiting 4-5 years before realizing any income is very difficult,” Mudenda said.

He said intercropping with early-maturing cassava, groundnut, or any other suitable crop is crucial to provide income in between. On markets, Mudenda said cashew has high demand and good prices compared to other crops. “Yes: high demand, good price. The key is to work on quality nuts, production, and processing issues,” Mudenda said.

 He stressed that livelihoods would improve if good establishment and management of plantations were doneKalabo District recorded a 60% survival rate for cashew seedlings delivered under the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP) since 2021, with late rains and weak market linkages blamed for the losses, District Agriculture Coordinator Milimo Mudenda has said.

 Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times, District Agriculture Coordinator Milimo Mudenda said Kalabo planted 170,699 cashew seedlings in 2022, but only 102,418 trees were recorded in 2026. “Poor and uneven distribution of rainfall affected crop establishment,” Mudenda said.

 He added that late delivery and planting of seedlings also contributed to the failure rate. “Poor market linkage made farmers lose hope in management of the crop,” Mudenda explained. Kalabo has 1,751 cashew farmers on record, with an average age of 43 years. The average plantation size is 1 hectare. Mudenda said cashew farming remains viable but only if farmers integrate it with short-term value crops. “The saddest part is our farmers belong to the low-income bracket. Waiting 4-5 years before realizing any income is very difficult,” Mudenda said.

He said intercropping with early-maturing cassava, groundnut, or any other suitable crop is crucial to provide income in between. On markets, Mudenda said cashew has high demand and good prices compared to other crops. “Yes: high demand, good price.

The key is to work on quality nuts, production, and processing issues,” Mudenda said. He stressed that livelihoods would improve if good establishment and management of plantations were done.

Article by Francine Chibuye

Kalabo District recorded a 60% survival rate

Zambia should learn from Brazil’s holistic Agricultural success

Agriculture expert Frank Kayula has endorsed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Oliver Kalabo’s recent call for stronger agricultural linkages between Zambia and Brazil, emphasizing that Brazil’s global success is rooted in more than just mechanization.

“Brazil is very advanced in agriculture. Even those you call small-scale farmers are mechanized and they are doing very well,” Kayula told the Zambian Business Times (ZBT). “But the key lessons are in how farmers are structured and organized, their focus on research, and their dominance in global value chains.”

 Kayula revealed that while Brazil has sought deeper cooperation with Zambia for more than five years, progress remains slow. “They are very well connected with South Africa, but with us, it’s talk show. We talk very nicely about everything,” he said. “I have met their Ambassador for Brazil here in Zambia and we have discussed details. But the challenge is that we need to move from talking and just creating visits to Brazil, to implementing some of those ideas—signing agreements that will help us tap into Brazilian agricultural expertise.”

Dr. Kalabo, speaking recently in Brasília at a high-level meeting with Zambian diplomats, underscored the need for Zambia to draw on Brazil’s expertise to transform its agricultural sector—key to job creation, food security, and exports. He noted that Zambia has deliberately elevated diplomatic and economic engagement with Brazil, seeking stronger partnerships, increased business, and investment that will benefit Zambians, especially the youth. “Brazil’s status as a global agricultural powerhouse provides a vital blueprint for Zambia’s own development aspirations,” Dr. Kalabo said.

“Brazil’s agriculture is highly mechanised and driven by world-class innovation. Zambia can learn from this and build strong economic linkages.”

 Kayula also criticized Zambia’s continued reliance on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), arguing that poor structure has kept farmers dependent. “If FISP was very well structured, people would be moving out of FISP, growing into better farmers who are able to play their role in the agricultural sector using private sector systems. But unfortunately, those that have been on FISP have always been on FISP because our agricultural sector is poorly structured. We talk more than we act.”

 He expressed hope that Dr. Kalabo’s influence in Cabinet could drive real change at the Ministry of Agriculture, stressing that transformation requires the government to engage directly with farmers and private sector organizers, not just make pronouncements.

 “Agriculture is not just about government and what it says. Agriculture is about those that are actually involved in production. How many of those, and how many of those that are trying to organize these farmers, have been engaged with the Brazilian agricultural system? Very few.”

 Kayula warned that without structured markets, production systems, and organized farmer bodies, Zambia would continue to struggle to reach its targets. “Tanzania talked and now it has become the second-largest producer of maize after South Africa. Why can’t we do something? Ours is still a ten-million target, but at the moment we can’t even sell the 1.6 million,” he said. “What are we going to do with the ten million? The markets are not structured, production systems are not structured, the farmers are not well organized.”

 He called on the government to support apex farmer bodies to prevent exploitation and help farmers access quality inputs. “If we have apex bodies, it’s incumbent upon the government to support them so that farmers are very well organized. Otherwise, people can go straight to the farmer and cheat them out of their produce, and give them very poor inputs that do not work,” Kayula lamented.

He concluded that Zambia must shift from celebrating potential to executing actionable plans. “We always talk about potential. In this region, we can work well. But we cannot implement certain things unless the government sits down with those who are organizing the agricultural sector.”

By Francine Chibuye

Agriculture expert Frank Kayula has endorsed Deputy

Vegetable prices expected to drop

Zambia’s horticulture sector has recorded robust growth in the 2025/2026 season, with strong rainfall and increased farmer participation driving up production and lowering prices of key vegetables. In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Fruit and Vegetables Association of Zambia (FVAZ) President Bernard Sikunyongana said this year’s improved water availability has been a major factor behind the sector’s success.

 “We have had very good rainfall this year and production has increased,” Sikunyongana explained. “If you look from last November and December, tomato prices came down because more players entered the market. That’s a sign that participation is growing.” To address temporary supply gaps, the government opened borders for onion imports in April, but this import window is set to close within the next two weeks as locally grown onions enter the market. Potato imports will also be permitted for one month starting next week to cover current shortages, Sikunyongana said.

 He noted that these import windows have shortened compared to previous years, indicating improved domestic production. “In the past, we opened for potatoes and onions for three months each. This year, it’s just one month for potatoes and two months for onions. This shows local production is improving.” Sikunyongana also credited a stronger Kwacha for keeping prices of imported produce low.

 “The exchange rate has helped us maintain prices. Our Kwacha has been gaining, which offset some of the cost increases.” He emphasized that consumer demand is the ultimate measure of the sector’s health. “These products are part of Zambia’s basic food basket. When prices remain stable or decline, it means the industry is performing as expected and people can continue consuming these essentials.”

Sikunyongana said that allowing imports during local shortages helped stabilize prices. “Without onion imports, prices could have soared to five or ten Kwacha per bulb. Because we allowed imports, prices have remained steady.” He explained that border openings are a temporary mitigation measure, particularly after heavy late rains disrupted local onion production.

 “Rains ended very late this year, which affected onions. Opening borders is just to cover the shortage and ensure supply.” FVAZ, he added, works to balance imported and local supply. “We are now able to control the flow of imported and locally produced goods.

By mid-next month, we’ll rely solely on local produce.” “Everything is in place. Farmers are still producing, and water is available for year-round planting and production,” Sikunyongana concluded.

Article by Francine Chibuye

Zambia’s horticulture sector has recorded robust growth