By Chintu Malambo

Acting Secretary to the Treasury Nsandi Manza says the government is committed to mobilising additional investments, particularly in green and climate-resilient finance, to ensure smallholder farmers are not left behind amid increasing climate shocks.

Speaking at the Agriculture Finance Conference jointly hosted by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, and cooperating partner GIZ, Ms Manza said access to affordable and timely financial services remains a critical barrier for rural farmers and enterprises.

She disclosed that Zambia is finalizing the Rural and Agriculture Finance Strategy 2025–2030, which aims to expand access to finance through tailored financial products, digital platforms, insurance schemes, and stronger public-private coordination.

“The government regards agricultural finance as a critical pillar for the country’s economic transformation agenda,” Ms Manza said.

And Ministry of Agriculture’s Director for Agribusiness and Marketing, Mwendalubi Msoka, said the ministry is scaling up financing in agriculture to transform the country’s food systems in line with the African Union’s Kampala Declaration.

Ms Msoka said the government has continued to increase budget allocations while implementing reforms to attract private sector investment in the sector.

Meanwhile, stakeholders such as GreenField Commodities Limited are also contributing.

Commercial Manager Kangwa Lufungulo said the institution has been offering a range of financial interventions for small-scale farmers, including funding and training on climate change adaptation strategies.

The conference, held under the theme “Zambia’s Translation of the Kampala Ambition on Access to Agriculture Finance: What is in it for Smallholder Farmers in View of Climate Change?” The conference is meant to explore inclusive, innovative, and resilient financing solutions for Zambia’s agricultural sector.-NAIS