A high-level Zambian delegation has arrived in Rome to participate in the World Food Forum and the United Nations Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, scheduled from October 14 to 17 at the FAO Headquarters.

The global forum, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will see 30 countries and six Regional Initiatives present investment cases to agrifood investors and development partners. The event aims to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Zambia’s delegation is led by the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Peter Kapala, MP, who will present the country’s investment strategy focused on food security, sustainable agriculture, and inclusive economic growth. The strategy targets key value chains in maize, soybeans, honey, and aquaculture to enhance productivity, create jobs, and strengthen rural livelihoods.

This follows a USD 960 million investment plan presented by Zambia in 2024, which continues to boost the country’s agricultural and aquaculture sectors.

Minister Kapala highlighted the nation’s recent agricultural achievements, noting that despite a severe drought and national disaster declaration in the previous season, Zambia achieved a record 3.7 million metric tonnes of maize production in the 2024/2025 farming season. He said this demonstrated the resilience of Zambia’s farmers and the government’s effective interventions in climate adaptation and irrigation development.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to modernising agriculture through investment in mechanisation, extension services, and value addition. He also pointed to significant growth in the sector, including a rise in soybean production from 400,000 to 760,000 metric tonnes, and the export of locally produced maize seed to markets in Africa and Europe.

On the sidelines of the forum, the delegation is set to engage in bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening agricultural partnerships and attracting new investment.

Kapala stated that President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government remain steadfast in their commitment to strengthening Zambia’s international relationships through trade, investment, and sustainable development cooperation. He added that such engagements reflect the President’s vision of positioning Zambia as a credible, reliable, and progressive partner on the global stage.

Zambia’s participation in the forum reaffirms the country’s resolve to accelerate inclusive rural transformation, modernise its agriculture sector, and position itself as a premier investment destination in Africa.

An Agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, says the projected increase in fertiliser production at the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) will help stabilize the prices of the commodity on the market.

The Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is set to ramp up fertiliser production from the 70,000 to 432,000 metric tonnes annually following an investment of US$6.8 million towards the fertiliser blending and granulating plant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Zambia Emergency Food Production Facility (ZAEFPF).

In an interview with the media in Lusaka today, Dr Bulaya said the move will also help farmers to increase crop production.

He said this will especially increase small scale farmers who are facing low levels of production due to high prices of fertiliser.

He stated that it is important for the country to invest in fertiliser and seed production, saying Zambia is now one of the biggest suppliers of fertiliser in the region.

Meanwhile, National Association for Smallholder Farmers (NASFA) Executive Director, Frank Kayula, says the expected increase in production will also help the country’s economy as there will be more fertiliser export.

Dr Kayula noted that increased fertiliser export will subsequently lead to the improvement in the exchange rates thereby making other imported materials cheaper to acquire.

He however stated that the government needs to intervene through the Consumer Protection Unit in order to help set more favourable prices for seeds on the market.

Government says it is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia in the green economy sector, with a particular focus on expanding the honey industry as a key driver of rural livelihoods, environmental conservation, and economic diversification.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) honey value chain study visit delegation, whose mission is to foster experience sharing and collaboration between the Zambian and Ethiopian honey value chains, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Ranford Simumbwe, emphasised the importance of such engagements in advancing South-South cooperation for sustainable development.

Mr Simumbwe noted that the government greatly values the long-standing partnership between Zambia and Ethiopia, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as green enterprise development.

“This engagement presents an opportunity to deepen collaboration in forestry and sustainable agricultural value chains, particularly the honey sector, which offers strong potential for inclusive green growth,” he said.

Mr Simumbwe said Zambia’s honey industry is one of the country’s fastest-growing green enterprises, currently producing approximately 2,500 metric tonnes annually, far below its estimated potential of 20,000 tonnes.

He said the sector supports more than 50,000 smallholder beekeepers, largely operating in the Miombo woodlands, which cover about 60 percent of Zambia’s land area.

He pointed out that the honey value chain offers triple benefits namely rural income, biodiversity conservation, and economic diversification.

Mr Simumbwe added that currently, Zambia has 15 major honey processors, with growing opportunities for value addition and exports.

He underscored Zambia’s strategic investment models which include US$23 million worth of out-grower schemes linking traditional beekeepers to formal markets, forest-based beekeeping in local concessions, and queen rearing programmes to boost colony health and productivity.

He said Zambia is seeking technical collaboration with Ethiopia in areas such as bee genetics, disease control, export certification, and apiary management.

The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment further said the government was also offering incentives such as fiscal rebates on processing equipment and is developing certification and traceability systems to meet European Union (EU) and regional market standards.

Meanwhile Zambia’s Acting Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tom Michelo, described the UNIDO study visit as a key step in strengthening the two countries’ collaboration on shared environmental and economic goals.

Mr Michelo highlighted Ethiopia’s interest in Zambia’s policy frameworks, cooperative development, quality assurance, biodiversity conservation, and product diversification.

He also recognised Ethiopia’s achievements that include the Bounty of the Basket programme, which he said produced over 326,000 metric tonnes of honey in 2024/25, and the Green Legacy Initiative, with over 40 billion trees planted since 2018.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian delegation leader, Girma Mulugeta Tulu, noted the mutual interests in sustainable and forest-based enterprises, particularly in the honey value chain.

Mr Tulu said it is important to support smallholder farmers, noting that green enterprises like beekeeping can enhance incomes, nutrition, and export opportunities.

“Ethiopia sees Zambia as a strategic partner in expanding green exports across domestic and international markets,” Mr Tulu said.

He explained that market access, fair trade, infrastructure development, green financing and joint research and training are the key areas in which Zambia-Ethiopia can collaborate further.

Mr Tulu also called for continued dialogue and open exchanges in research, technology, and business development.

The UNIDO honey value chain study visit is a South-South knowledge exchange initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration in sustainable beekeeping and honey production.

It follows a recent visit by a Zambian delegation to Ethiopia to study its Digital ID system, which led to a Memorandum of Understanding to support Zambia’s implementation.

RDA advises on Temporary Traffic Congestion on Great North Road

The Road Development Agency (RDA) has advised motorists to expect temporary traffic congestion between 6 and 10 Miles along the Great North Road as construction works intensify on the Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway.

According to a public notice issued on 13 October 2025, the RDA and MOIC Construction Zambia Limited — the concessionaire undertaking the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) financing model  said the disruption was the result of ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the highway into a dual carriageway.

The notice explained that the road works form part of a broader effort to enhance road safety, cut travel time, and promote economic growth through improved transport connectivity. Once completed, the Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway will serve as a key trade corridor linking Zambia’s industrial capital with its main seaport routes through the Copperbelt and onward to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The agency expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and appealed for public patience and cooperation. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and kindly request the public’s patience and cooperation as we carry out these essential works,” the statement read.

Construction progress on the affected section was described as steady, with completion targeted for the end of November 2025. The RDA urged motorists to consider alternative routes where possible to avoid peak-hour delays, especially on the Great North Road outbound lane.

The statement further noted that the Lusaka–Ndola project represents one of Zambia’s most critical transport corridors and that its successful completion would provide safer passage for passengers and freight alike. The dual-carriageway upgrade is expected to reduce accident rates on a stretch of road long associated with heavy-truck traffic and frequent collisions.

Motorists travelling north toward Kabwe and the Copperbelt have already reported periodic slowdowns as construction crews clear sections for earthworks and lane expansion. Traffic officers have been deployed intermittently to assist in directing vehicles and maintaining flow.

Authorities emphasised that the inconvenience would be temporary and outweighed by the long-term benefits once the dual carriageway is operational. The project, valued at hundreds of millions of kwacha, is among the country’s most ambitious road-rehabilitation efforts in recent years and underscores the importance of infrastructure renewal for trade and safety.

The RDA concluded its statement by thanking road users for their continued understanding and cooperation as Zambia moves toward modernising one of its busiest national routes.