Basic HTML Version
287
www.ebizguides.com
Agriculture
Many Zambian livelihoods depend on subsistence farming
Although maize is the main staple crop, rice and wheat
are becoming increasingly important foods
ed ‘winter’ wheat, as the national consumption has
increased tremendously in recent years, from 140
000 metric tonnes in 2007 to 195 000 in 2008, and
210 000 in 2009.
Millet
Millet, a staple food grown mainly by small-scale farm-
ers for subsistence, is also used locally in the brew-
ing of beer. The Northern Province accounts for over
50 percent of national production. There is presently
limited demand for millet, which has been reflected
in production levels, which have thus remained low.
Sorghum
Sorghum is grown in the Southern, Western and
North-Western provinces. Like millet, production lev-
els remain low due to low demand.
Rice
About half of Zambia’s rice is produced in Northern
Province, followed by Western and Eastern provinc-
es. Production levels have increased greatly along
with the increase in farmland used for rice produc-
tion. National consumption of rice has risen from 31
248 metric tonnes in 2007 to 37 249 in 2008 and 54
000 in 2009.
Nuts and Beans
Peanuts (groundnuts) are predominately produced
in Eastern and Northern provinces. Due to their
great popularity in export markets there is ample
room to expand local production and processing of
this lucrative product. There are also opportunities to
increase production of cashew nuts, which are pres-
ently grown in Western Province.
Commercial farmers in the Central, Lusaka, Cop-
perbelt and Southern provinces produce around 60
percent of soybeans. Oil from processed soybeans
and sunflower seeds is in demand both in the local
market and further afield. The main production area
for mixed beans is Zambia’s Northern Province,
which is responsible for around 70 percent of the
national output.
Sugarcane
Sugar is one of the Zambia’s most valuable export
commodities, and is processed for its domestic mar-
ket, as well as for regional and international markets,
in particular the European Union (EU).
Zambia Sugar Plc (majority-owned by South Africa’s
Illovo Ltd.) has successfully managed to privatize the
local sugar industry. By far the largest manufacturer
in the country, Zambia Sugar is also among the most
cost effective producers of refined sugar in Africa,
in addition to being publicly listed on the Lusaka
Stock Exchange. Zambia Sugar mills and refines its
own sugarcane from its Nakambala Estate, as well
as sugarcane from a number of out-growers at its
refinery in Mazabuka. The company produces and
markets sugar and molasses, as well as other value-
added products such as icing sugar, castor sugar
and a range of syrups.
Zambia Sugar more than doubled its output in 2010
after expanding its plantation, factory and purchase
of additional farmland. With factory capacity hav-