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MS Zambia Newsletter May 2010
By Njira Mtonga, Programme Officer, MS Zambia
17. May 2010
The food crisis in Zambia continues despite the drop in international food prices since 2008. The causes of the food crises in the country are a complex combination of political, legal, institutional and attitudinal factors. Even though 58% of Zambia’s untapped land is classified as medium to high potential for agricultural production the country only uses 15% of its’ total arable land and about 30 % of its irrigable land. Most agriculture production in Zambia comes from small-scale farmers. 60 % of small-scale farmers are women, who also represent 70 % - 80% of the agricultural labour. However, customary land administration is discriminatory against women and the majority of the land is still under customary tenure. The marginalization of women and their lack of access and control over land is a major contributing factor to food insecurity at household level.
However, the high cost of food in Zambia is also dependent on how much it costs to produce final products. The cost of food is tied to how well the economy is performing vis-à-vis foreign exchange rates, foreign direct investments and donors’ balance of payments supports. At the moment, raw maize sells at higher prices than a processed product like mealie meal. Commercial farmers are not getting the real value and benefit of their labour and many have instead opted to cultivate bio-fuel crops. The end result is that the few available commercial farmers only produce for the export market and the vicious circle of deprivation and vulnerability escalates the price of staple foods.
Download and read the full report here
The food crisis in Zambia continues
Despite the drop in international food prices since 2008 food prices in Zambia continue to grow. MS Zambia has produced a report which explores the reasons for this.
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Photo: Lena Vind-Andersen
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17. May 2010
The food crisis in Zambia continues despite the drop in international food prices since 2008. The causes of the food crises in the country are a complex combination of political, legal, institutional and attitudinal factors. Even though 58% of Zambia’s untapped land is classified as medium to high potential for agricultural production the country only uses 15% of its’ total arable land and about 30 % of its irrigable land. Most agriculture production in Zambia comes from small-scale farmers. 60 % of small-scale farmers are women, who also represent 70 % - 80% of the agricultural labour. However, customary land administration is discriminatory against women and the majority of the land is still under customary tenure. The marginalization of women and their lack of access and control over land is a major contributing factor to food insecurity at household level.
However, the high cost of food in Zambia is also dependent on how much it costs to produce final products. The cost of food is tied to how well the economy is performing vis-à-vis foreign exchange rates, foreign direct investments and donors’ balance of payments supports. At the moment, raw maize sells at higher prices than a processed product like mealie meal. Commercial farmers are not getting the real value and benefit of their labour and many have instead opted to cultivate bio-fuel crops. The end result is that the few available commercial farmers only produce for the export market and the vicious circle of deprivation and vulnerability escalates the price of staple foods.
Download and read the full report here
