Reported by: S. Ernest.
Date: 18th February, 2025.
Luanshya, Copperbelt, Zambia.
In a significant step towards economic diversification and food security, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Office of the Vice President’s Resettlement Division, has successfully trained 270 settlers in cassava production at Maposa Resettlement Scheme.
This initiative aligns with the Government’s broader strategy to support sustainable livelihoods and foster agricultural transformation.
The training, held at Copperstone University along the Ndola-Kitwe Road, also included participants from surrounding communities in Luanshya, Ndola, and Kitwe, ensuring a widespread impact beyond the resettlement scheme.
Recognizing the growing demand for cassava in industrial applications, the Government, in 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zhongkai International Limited and Musika Development Zambia to facilitate cassava seed multiplication and processing.
This partnership aims to increase the number of Zambians engaged in cassava farming, enabling them to benefit from its profitability while strengthening national food security.
The recently concluded training covered key aspects of cassava farming, including:
- Land preparation and planting techniques
- Crop management and disease control
- Post-harvest handling and value addition
The initiative is projected to enhance household incomes for over 700 settlers at Maposa Resettlement Scheme while indirectly benefiting 500 additional households in surrounding communities.
To guarantee a stable market for cassava farmers, the Office of the Vice President, under the MoU, is spearheading the construction of an Ethanol Processing Factory at Maposa Resettlement Scheme.
The facility, which has received approval from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), will feature:
- An ethanol plant to process cassava into biofuel
- Feed processing units to support livestock production
- A crushing capacity of 500 tons of cassava per day
Additionally, a 20-hectare cassava seed multiplication farm will be established to provide farmers with high-quality planting material.
In alignment with the Presidential Irrigation Programme, an irrigation dam will also be constructed to enable year-round cultivation, further boosting food production in the region.
The training program was implemented in collaboration with AgriTrain Initiative, a private-sector farming business based in Mwekera Resettlement Scheme, with extensive experience in agricultural training.
This initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to economic empowerment, enhanced agricultural productivity, and food security through strategic partnerships and capacity-building programs.
By equipping farmers with the necessary skills and ensuring a reliable market for cassava, the Government is laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector in Zambia.
The Agency