By Kakoma Chayinda
GREENHOUSE Gas emissions has continued to be a major contributor to climate change, primarily due to energy use, industrial processes and land use which has impacted the environment negatively affecting millions of people in Zambia.
In order to remedy the effects of Climate Change, different stakeholders are now looking for ways to sustainably manage and contain the effects of carbon emissions, with the focus on reducing its presence in the atmosphere.
For the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, reducing greenhouse gasses is one of its set goals it aims to achieve by the year 2030.
According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Douty Chibamba, the ministry has updated its National Determined Contribution which seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 47% in its 2024 to 2030 roadmap.
Dr Chibamba said the effects of climate change are devasting and that efforts should be channeled to managing its causes such as Greenhouse gases.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by the National Coordinator for the National Designated Authority Billy Katontoka during the official launch of the Green Climate Fund Multi-Country Readiness Project, dubbed ‘Scaling-up Public-Private Co-investments for climate change in Agri-Food Systems’.
“In our National Adaptation Plan, we prioritise food security, water sustainability, and resilient infrastructure while our Green Growth Strategy 2024–2030 roadmap is meant to transition to a low-carbon, inclusive economy, placing agri-food systems at the center of our transformation agenda,” Dr Chibamba said.
He further said government is committed to supporting efforts by different stakeholders aimed at mitigating climate change through the sustainable use of the environment adding that the last farming season affected over 6.5 million people in the country.
Dr Chibamba explained that through the Scaling-up Public-Private Co-investments for climate change in Agri-Food Systems Project, it was expected that there will be to strengthened institutional capacity across public and private sectors in responding to climate change through blended financing.
“This project is important because it seeks to foster a pipeline of bankable, fundable projects and mobilize public-private co-investments for agricultural transformation in the country which is top of our agenda” indicated the PS.
The Project aims to benefit small holder enterprises in the Agri-Food value chain through private sector engagement and to scale up climate action in 7 countries including Chad, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique and Zambia.
Zambia will serve as the Lead National Designated Authority in this transformative initiative meant to empower small scale enterprises in the Agri-Food value chain in sustainable ventures, implemented in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
For the private sector, such projects are essential in supporting SMEs, cooperatives, and investors, in the driving the smart climate agenda.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative Suze Percy-Filippin explained that Zambia received less than 0.7% of global climate finance for agri-food systems in 2022 and that undertaking such projects lays the foundation to channel investments into critical sectors ranging from smallholder agriculture and agribusiness to broader food systems and value chains.
Ms Percy-Fillipin indicated that, there is need to enhance institutional capacities, bridge knowledge gaps, and identify financing opportunities which aligns agri-food sector priorities with climate goals and objectives.
“This project will support the development of bankable project ideas based on existing investment priorities in the country through a collaborative process that takes into consideration the perspectives of ministries while putting the private sector, including SMEs, cooperatives, and investors, in the driving seat,” she stated.
Ms Percy-Fillipin reiterated that her organization will provide technical expertise, through its global network of partners to support Zambia in transforming agri-food systems to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
The collaboration between government ministries and agencies with cooperating partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization among others is critical to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number 13 that emphasizes the need for urgent action to mitigate climate change and adopt to its consequences.
For small and medium enterprises in the Agri-Food value chain, having projects that supports their initiatives to sustainably engage in economic activities is essential as it provides not only the financing but also the expertise needed in value addition of Agro products through climate smart practices.
Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia National Coordinator Munshimbwe Chitalu explained that small scale farmers and processors are a key component in the fight against climate change adding that its important to engage the small-scale farmers in order for them to adapt smart agriculture technics.
“As small-scale farmers and processors, we sometimes engage in unsustainable cutting down of trees and other activities that contributes to climate change, hence such projects require the involvement of small holder farmers so as to learn better agriculture practices,” Mr Chitalu said.
It is clear from the onset that last season’s El Nino effect on the agriculture sector is a wake up call to all stakeholders to do even more in curbing practices that affects the environment, in order to safeguard lives of many people, especially the vulnerable in society. –NAIS