ERADICATION OF POVERTY THROUGH AGRICULTURE

By Zhunga Simbwalanga

I THOUGHT to do an article as a voice at such a time when there is a new dawn of the new government in Zambia.

This article is meant to spell out what may be the drive to a successful policy for poverty eradication for a struggling economy. Please read through with understanding as it may sound more academic.

I have a strong conviction that the most effective way to improve the lives of millions in poverty in Zambia is to support agriculture. Most of the world’s poor are farmers, and those who do not spend much of their income on food.

Transforming a country’s agriculture sector can create jobs, raise incomes, reduce malnutrition, and kick-start the economy on a path to middle-income growth or better. In fact, almost every industrialized nation began its economic ascent with an agricultural transformation as it is evident by all world's best economies.

Zambian's, agricultural transformation has not advanced as planned or has stalled. I must be quick to mention here that we have some very good agriculture policies as a country.

Navigating the complexity of Agriculture transformation is invariably tough, even though they may prioritize agricultural investment and recognize how important it is to get right.

This is especially true in an era in which governments are seeking agricultural transformations that meet multiple goals simultaneously.

In addition to traditional economic development and poverty reduction goals, Zambia should also focus its agricultural transformation plans on the already existing Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by considering, for example, climate-smart strategies, women’s economic empowerment, and biodiversity. There is no need to bring down and start again aside what has or is already there.

The drivers of agricultural transformation are multidimensional, interrelated, and change over time, but they can be organized into categories to provide a better opportunity for pragmatic diagnostics and decision making on national priorities.

My analysis as a practicing Agriprenuer and consultant, I classify the main drivers in agriculture into three main categories.

1. Elements of “transformation readiness.” Changes to a country’s institutional framework, governing mechanisms, and political environment can significantly influence the likelihood of accelerating an agricultural transformation.

2. Quality of the national agricultural plan or strategy is critical.

3. Drivers related to delivery mechanisms. This category focuses on what is needed to translate the national agricultural plan into on-the-ground impact.

This includes the ways in which Zambia as a country can manage decision making and progress against targets as well as how they use change agents to support the large-scale behaviour change among small holder farmers that underpins a successful agricultural transformation.

We farm with knowledge because an informed farmer is a happy farmer and a wealthy farmer.

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