Timothy Sichilima

The cattle industry is a key component in the Zambian livestock sector which has the potential of contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth. However, the sector is fraught with low productivity levels, low participation rates in dairy markets by smallholder farmers and few agribusiness players that provide an off-take market.
Musika supported a dairy processing firm, herein referred to as MPF, with storage equipment and logistical support so as to enhance its capacity to provide extension services and a milk market for rural farmers. Following the implementation of the intervention, Musika undertook a study in order to understand the status of smallholder dairy markets and farmers’ perception of formal dairy market in Western Province.

Malnutrition has remained stubbornly high amongst Zambians over the past decade, especially amongst the rural households. Zambia is one of the countries with the highest levels of undernourishment in the world with a prevalence of about 45% (FAO et. al., 2018). One of the major contributors to the high malnutrition levels are the high poverty levels experienced in the rural areas, estimated to be around 76% (CSO, 2015). It is against this background that Musika, using its market oriented approach, envisions contributing towards a reduction in malnutrition levels amongst the rural households across the country through the “Making Zambia’s Agricultural Markets Work for Nutrition” initiative. Under this specific project, Musika seeks to achieve increased consumption of a diverse range of nutritious foods among poor Zambians, especially amongst women and children and within smallholder farming and rural communities.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented global public health and economic crises. The effect of the pandemic has been felt by all key stakeholders, most especially the private sector as it has continued to impact on their business operations. This study specifically takes a snap shot of the effect of the pandemic on the private sector operating in the agricultural sector.

In order to increase and sustain farmers’ production, productivity, income and food security in the wake of climate change, various methods of production have been invented and published to counter effects of climate change. However, many farmers in rural areas do not get to have the resources needed to adopt some of these climate mitigation strategies. Various studies have shown the devastating effects of climate change on farmers and the nation at large as food is needed by all. Farmers have experienced the effects of droughts, floods, high temperatures etc. and have had to adapt to the current changes for survival. This study focused on finding out the techniques used by the farmers to mitigate against climatic hazards and how they access the information needed to fight climate change.

Small scale farming is the main source of income and employment for most Zambians in both the formal and informal sectors, accounting for 80% of the total employment in the informal sector. The informal sector (particularly agriculture) has a proportionately higher number of women than men working in it. The high share of both formal and informal employment in agriculture presents the poverty reduction potential for this sector.
Women in Zambia contribute over 70% of the labour in the agricultural markets through both the formal and informal labor market. This study sort to identify current and possible points of entry for women to participate profitably in agriculture at all levels of the value chains.

This report was generated to serve as a reference document for Musika and its implementing partners. Musika Development Initiatives (Musika) is a non-profit company that works to stimulate private sector investments in rural agricultural markets.

This report was generated to serve as a reference document for Musika and its implementing partners. Musika Development Initiatives (Musika) is a non-profit company that works to stimulate private sector investments in rural and agricultural markets.

This report was generated to serve as a reference document for Musika Development Initiatives (Musika) and World Food Programme (WFP). Musika is a non-profit company that works to stimulate private sector investments in rural agricultural markets. It achieves this by helping businesses to develop mutually beneficial and transparent commercial relationships with smallholders that integrate the provision of information and technology adoption, and provide confidence and long term incentives for smallholders to invest in their farming business.

This report was generated to serve as a reference document for Musika Development Initiatives (Musika) and its implementing partners. Musika is a non-profit company that works to stimulate private sector investments in rural agricultural markets. It achieves this by helping businesses to develop mutually beneficial and transparent commercial relationships with smallholders that integrate the provision of information and technology adoption, and provide confidence and long term incentives for smallholders to invest in their farming business.

The Annual Household Survey (AHS), is primarily conducted to test the validity of Musika’s theory of change for generating impact at household level, on an annual basis. The data from the survey is presented in a descriptive format, and helps to offer insights on what the potential effect of Musika’s interventions have been at household-level. It also offers lessons in areas where Musika requires making improvements.