Zambia has intensified its campaign for greater private sector investment in agriculture, positioning the country to become a major food hub for Southern Africa.
The call was made by Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Engineer Peter Kapala, during a bilateral meeting with global life sciences company Bayer. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Hand in Hand Initiative Investment Forum 2025 at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
Eng. Kapala, leading the Zambian delegation, stated that the country is eager to collaborate with investors to expand production. This aligns with President Hakainde Hichilema’s ambitious national targets of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize, one million metric tonnes of soybeans, and one million metric tonnes of wheat annually by 2030.
“Zambia is open for business,” Eng. Kapala said. “We are ready to work with private investors and development partners to unlock the potential of our agriculture sector through increased investment in irrigation, mechanization, and agro-processing.”
He emphasized Zambia’s strategic advantages, including its central location in Southern Africa with borders to eight neighboring countries, providing access to a regional market of over 400 million people. The country also boasts vast tracts of arable land, abundant water resources, and a stable investment climate, making it an ideal base for agribusiness expansion.
To attract investors, the government has implemented several key reforms. These include modernizing the seed and livestock sectors, establishing mechanization hubs, and improving access to agricultural financing. These initiatives are designed to enhance productivity and competitiveness across the entire agricultural value chain.
Eng. Kapala also highlighted government-led programs like the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF), which enables smallholder farmers to access affordable loans for investments in solar-powered irrigation. Such efforts are critical for ensuring year-round production, reducing dependence on rainfall, and promoting climate-smart agriculture. The government is simultaneously investing in rural infrastructure, storage facilities, and digital platforms to improve farmers’ access to domestic and regional markets.
The Swedish Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO, Marija Milivojevic, commended Zambia for its conducive investment environment. She pointed to Bayer’s Itaba Project in Kabwe as a prime example of successful private investment driving agricultural growth.
Ms. Milivojevic cited Bayer’s newly commissioned €32 million maize seed facility in Kabwe, which triples the company’s production capacity for high-quality seed in Zambia. The facility’s output will support maize consumption for approximately 30 million people across the region.
The Itaba Project is projected to reach 6.4 million smallholder farmers in Zambia and other Sub-Saharan African countries this year, with a goal of serving 10 million farmers by 2030. This investment is the second largest by a European company in Zambia, reflecting growing international confidence in the sector.
Eng. Kapala concluded by reaffirming the government’s full commitment to supporting such investments, which demonstrate Zambia’s readiness for large-scale agricultural projects that create jobs, boost exports, and strengthen food security.
“We want to see more investments like Bayer’s projects that transfer technology, empower farmers, and help us build resilient agricultural systems,” the Minister said.
He urged donor agencies and international financial institutions to leverage Zambia’s progress by channeling more funding toward critical areas like irrigation, mechanization, and agricultural research, solidifying the country’s role as a sustainable agricultural hub for the region.
