THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa have launched a multi-partner initiative to promote agriculture markets at a cost of about US$18 million.
The Strengthen the Agricultural Input and Output Markets in Africa (SAIOMA) project, which will be implemented in six districts of Eastern and Central provinces, will benefit about 35,000 smallholder farmers.
According to information posted on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock website, the initiative will improve access to markets, increase income and improve livelihoods for smallholders.
The project will be done through building capacities of about 468 rural agro-dealers, who will provide quality seeds to the farming community.
USAID Zambia economic growth team leader Anna Toness said the initiative is aimed at addressing challenges in the agriculture value chain.

“The US$18 million SAIOMA initiative project is timely because it will address the needs in the agriculture value chain that will ensure farmers have access to inputs to raise their productivity and sell their produce profitably to increase their overall earnings from improved agricultural practices. It is a win-win for all partners involved,” Dr Toness said.
Participating farmers will be drawn from Mumbwa and Chibombo in Central Province, while those in Eastern Province will come from Petauke, Katete, Chipata and Lundazi.
Commenting on the SAIOMA project development, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock permanent secretary David Shamulenge, who officially launched the programme, said Government’s policy is to promote private sector participation and development of agricultural input and output markets.
Dr Shamulenge, however, notes that access to input and output for agricultural commodities remains a challenge for rural farmers.
“The initiative is commendable as it does not only seek to improve production and productivity, but to link farmers to both input and output markets, which has been a major challenge for millions of poor rural farmers across Africa,” he said.
He said although the agriculture sector has been growing at seven percent per annum in the recent years, it has not resulted in increased incomes for rural households, who depend on it.
“As Government, we welcome and support the initiative being promoted by USAID and other partners,” he said.
He also said by strengthening agricultural markets for farmers, the programme will create a conducive business environment for farmers to add value to their produce, increase profits and build on their capacity to produce more.
Dr Shamulenge said this will in turn contribute and complement to food security efforts being made by Government and partners.
The initiative, which is a three-year global development alliance among USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also being implemented in Kenya and Malawi.