Seed Sector Is Quietly Becoming a Continental Force

A quiet but consequential shift is under way in Zambia’s agricultural economy. Driven by deliberate policy direction, sustained investment in modern production systems and strengthened public-private partnerships, the country is emerging as a serious force in global seed production, exporting to markets across Africa and as far afield as Europe and setting its sights on becoming one of the continent’s most reliable suppliers of high-quality agricultural inputs. Cabinet Secretary Patrick Kangwa, speaking during a working visit to Mkushi District in Central Province, attributed the sector’s momentum to improved infrastructure, structured value chains and a more export-oriented approach to agricultural development. Zambian seed is currently reaching Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Nigeria and Senegal, alongside European markets including Italy and France, a geographical spread that ...