Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 16th May, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
In a significant boost to Zambia’s efforts to strengthen rural agricultural financing, the German Government, through GIZ, has handed over vehicles and IT equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance service delivery and financial literacy among smallholder farmers.
The support comes under the Global Project for the Promotion of Access to Agricultural Finance (GP AgFin) a decade-long initiative aimed at bridging the financing gap for agri-based enterprises in rural Zambia.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Administration, Ms. Yvonne Mpundu, highlighted that the donated resources will play a critical role in expanding financial literacy programs and fostering stronger linkages between farmers and financial institutions.
“With over half of Zambia’s agricultural population residing in rural areas, access to finance remains a key barrier to productivity and income generation,” Ms. Mpundu noted. “This support directly contributes to our strategic goal of empowering rural farmers through financial inclusion and capacity building.”
Over the course of the AGFIN Project, financial institutions have mobilized 21 million euros in private sector capital for Zambian farmers, marking a milestone in the Ministry’s collaboration with GIZ to unlock agricultural growth through financing solutions.
Ms. Cornelia Ehlers, AGFIN Project Coordinator at GIZ, reiterated the importance of sustained efforts in rural finance development, noting that while the AGFIN Project is set to conclude in July 2025, future initiatives such as CREATE and AGSYS are poised to continue the momentum.
“Our partnership with the Ministry has demonstrated the transformative impact of targeted financial interventions in rural communities,” Ms. Ehlers said. “Ensuring continuity through successor programs will be vital in driving Zambia’s agricultural transformation agenda.”
This handover underscores Germany’s broader commitment to supporting Zambia’s rural development and fostering inclusive economic growth through strategic partnerships and capacity development.
The Agency.