The Zambian government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to drastically scale up its domestic rice production, aiming to transform the nation into a significant exporter for the global market. During a high-level visit to the Sefula rice irrigation scheme in Mongu, Ministry of Agriculture Director Dr. Chizumba Shepande outlined a vision that looks specifically toward Southeast Asia as a primary destination for Zambian-grown crops. While acknowledging the current scale of production is modest, the government views the expansion of the existing 68,000 hectares of rice cultivation as a vital step toward achieving national economic diversification and entering the international trade arena.
The disparity between Zambia’s current agricultural footprint and established global leaders remains a central motivator for this new policy direction. Dr. Shepande pointed to Vietnam’s massive 3.9 million hectares of rice cultivation as a benchmark for what is possible with dedicated infrastructure and investment. By leveraging the vast, underutilised water resources in the Western Province, Zambia intends to bridge this production gap over the coming years. This ambitious growth plan is not merely about food security but is designed to position the country as a competitive player in a market traditionally dominated by Asian producers.
Support for this expansion is already being solidified through international cooperation, particularly with expertise arriving from Vietnam. A visiting delegation led by Cao Duc Phat has formally endorsed the quality of the Sefula irrigation scheme, pledging technical assistance to help Zambian farmers refine their methods and increase yields. This partnership is expected to go beyond simple knowledge sharing, fostering deeper bilateral ties between the two nations as they work together to modernize Zambia’s rice value chain.
“We are looking at how we can increase the area under cultivation because we have a huge potential, and our colleagues from Vietnam have shown us that it is possible to achieve high productivity,” stated Dr. Chizumba Shepande
