Zambia and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the implementation of reforms in the agriculture sector aimed at boosting productivity and economic growth. Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, John Mulongoti, says the partnership with Germany has been instrumental in supporting Zambia’s ongoing agricultural transformation agenda. Mr Mulongoti was speaking on the sidelines of the just-ended 18th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), held in Berlin, Germany.
The Permanent Secretary said engagements with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and other participating countries showed that Zambia is on the right path in reforming its agriculture sector. Mr Mulongoti highlighted reforms to government interventions such as the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), saying the re-purposing of the programme is already yielding positive and tangible results. He added that Zambia was cited at the forum as a model for other countries on how to reform and transform agriculture from a potential sector into a key driver of economic development and job creation.
“Government was reforming some of its interventions like the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP), where benefits are now being seen. Zambia was cited as an example for other countries to learn from on how to reform and transform the agriculture sector from a potential economic sector to a real sector which will contribute largely to economic development and job creation,” he explained. Mr Mulongoti stressed that the policy and legal reforms undertaken by the Government, coupled with the restructuring of key programmes, are beginning to deliver measurable outcomes.
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He further disclosed that the Zambian delegation used the forum to showcase investment opportunities in the country’s agriculture sector, noting with satisfaction the strong interest shown by several international companies. The Permanent Secretary expressed confidence that the engagements held during the forum will continue to generate results as Zambia accelerates reforms in the agriculture sector. Zambia was represented at the GFFA by Mr Mulongoti, Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation Permanent Secretary, Romas Kamanga, and senior officials from both the public and private sectors.
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