02/08/2025
Our Presidua on the Agriculture and Commercial Show
Dear Showgoers, Exhibitors and fellow Citizens,
Welcome to the 2025 Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show, held under the theme: "Adapting To Climate Change." This timely theme echoes the reality of our experience last year, when Zambia faced its worst drought in over a century, an event that shifted the trajectory of our national development.
The severe drought tested our food and energy security. Yet in the midst of adversity, our nation found clarity: that resilience, solidarity, and innovation can turn a crisis into a catalyst for progress. We are reminded that Zambia is endowed with abundant water bodies, among the richest in southern africa. These natural resources hold the power to transform our agriculture from a seasonal maize-dependent culture to a diverse, irrigation-driven, year-round system, enabled by effective water harvesting techniques.
We have also learnt that while hydropower is a clean source of energy, over-reliance on it in the era of climate volatility is no longer sustainable. It is therefore encouraging to see the emergence of alternative energy sources, particularly solar and clean coal, to secure our energy future. This is deliberate and intentional.
We salute our farmers, the unsung heroes, who, in the face of baking fields and wilted crops, stood firm. From the scars of drought to a bumper harvest of approximately 4 million tonnes of maize this year, their story is not just one of success, it is a miracle wrought through grit, sacrifice, and an unbreakable spirit.
Our modernised e-voucher system was central to this success. During the 2024/25 season, it ensured that 99% of farmers received inputs before the onset of rains. This efficiency, transparency, and timeliness have set a new standard in agricultural support delivery. We further applaud the strategic clean-up of the farmer input support programme (FISP), which saw the removal of over 210,000 ineligible individuals.
