Redefining Zambia's griculture Systems
... Farms like Loctaguna, where agroecology demonstrates that caring for soil, water, and livestock also benefits the bottom line, are setting global standards for sustainable and socially responsible agriculture.
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (09-03-2026) — Across Zambia, a growing movement of farmers, scientists, and policymakers is challenging decades of chemical-dependent monoculture — proving that working with nature is not just good ethics, but smart business.
Farms like Loctaguna Organic Farm are at the forefront of this transformation, showing that sustainable, environmentally conscious practices can also boost profitability.
When a partner company called Newlove Kanangwa, the founder of Lactaguna, to say their bins were overflowing with used coffee grounds, her response was immediate:
"I immediately told them to give it to us. That waste is valuable to us," she says.
At Loctaguna, what others throw away becomes the raw material of a thriving enterprise.
The farm supplies produce to airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, planting according to schedules sent three months in advance.
Last year, it ranked second globally in a Corporate Social Responsibility competition for its organic initiative.
Its approach is simple: instead of spending money on commercial inputs, the farm converts other people’s waste into fertiliser, animal feed, and compost.
Through a partnership with Newrest Zambia, garbage collection costs fell by 35 percent, while pig-feeding costs dropped by 45 percent after the farm stopped buying commercial feed and relied on food waste collected during delivery runs.
"When we deliver produce, we collect waste on our way back, so there is no extra transport cost," Kanangwa explains.
The farm’s worm composting operation sits at the heart of this circular system. Tea bags, cardboard, and organic scraps are processed by worms into what Kanangwa calls "the most expensive fertiliser" — yet it costs almost nothing to produce.
Applied across the fields, it delivers strong yields without any synthetic fertiliser.
Animal welfare is central to Kanangwa’s philosophy. Pigs eat only recycled food waste, venture outside daily, and are "healthy and thriving," she says.
Lactating goats are fed blue Sydia, a plant that supports milk production.
"We treat our animals as humanely as possible. The milk is for the young ones, and we don’t milk commercially. About 98 percent of our goats are female, and when breeding is required, a male is introduced temporarily," Kanangwa explains.
Goats live outdoors, receive adequate sunlight and recovery time, and rarely fall ill. Rabbits, chickens, and cats complete a balanced and natural ecosystem.
"We reduce food waste, cut costs, treat our animals humanely, avoid commercial feed, and support communities through partnerships. When you look after your animals and your environment, they look after you in return," Kanangwa says.
Loctaguna plants according to airline schedules to ensure everything grown is already allocated.
"Menu changes vary, but production is carefully planned around demand," she adds. Kanangwa also notes that global instability can affect operations, as airline schedules may change quickly.
"Our approach is rooted in sustainability, and partnerships with businesses, airlines, and restaurants help us access food waste that would otherwise be discarded," she concludes.
At the heart of Zambia’s agricultural transformation is agroecology, a farming approach that works with natural systems rather than against them.
Practitioners argue that Zambia’s land, soil, and people already hold most of what is needed; the task is to use these resources efficiently.
Ms. Mgangxela explained that homes and gardens can harvest rainwater by directing rooftop runoff into trenches and gardens, allowing the water to soak into the soil instead of being lost.
Farmers can also observe rainwater flow and create diversion channels to guide it into fields.
“Land is one of the best places to store water because soil can hold moisture for longer periods. Many farmers want tanks from government, but it is not possible to provide tanks for everyone,” she said.
She noted that simple techniques such as trenches, contour lines, and raised beds can slow water movement and help it infiltrate the soil. Many of these methods build on indigenous knowledge that communities have used for generations.
“Our grandmothers used 200-litre drums to collect rainwater. In agroecology, we are improving that knowledge for smallholder farms and backyard gardens,” Ms. Mgangxela said.
She also encouraged the reuse of grey water from household activities and the use of mulching to retain soil moisture and improve soil health.
Responding to long dry seasons, Ms. Mgangxela said water harvesting allows soil to retain moisture from the rainy season, enabling crops to grow longer.
Even farmers without irrigation, boreholes, or tanks can benefit from these basic principles.
She added that techniques must be adapted to local soil conditions and that reducing excessive paving in urban areas helps rainwater infiltrate the ground rather than drain away.
Ms. Mgangxela concluded that these techniques are scalable and can benefit entire communities.
Her message is clear: communities do not need to wait for infrastructure. Simple methods — trenches, contour lines, raised beds, and rooftop runoff diversion — can capture and hold rainwater, extending the growing season beyond the rains.
Soil Health and Fertility
“The plants on this farm are thriving because the soil is well taken care of,” Voigts said.
“We add organic matter, which supports the plants and reduces farmers’ workload.”
She explained that agroecology focuses on improving soil fertility over time through organic matter rather than synthetic fertilizers. Practices such as mulching and tree shading help keep soil cool and protect crops from heat.
Farmers demonstrated preparing bokashi, an organic fertilizer made from soil, yeast, molasses, water, and manure.
“You mix the materials, sprinkle the liquid over the pile, and keep turning it,” one farmer said. “After several days, the fertilizer is ready for use.”
Bokashi should be buried in the soil to prevent nutrient loss, especially nitrogen.
Participants also discussed crop varieties. Hybrid crops perform best under chemical-intensive conditions, while local and indigenous varieties adapt better to low-input farming, Voigts noted.
Natural pest control methods were demonstrated. Comfrey leaves fermented in water for two weeks produce a liquid that deters pests, and adding tithonia increases its effectiveness. Comfrey’s deep roots draw nutrients from lower soil layers, returning them to the surface through its leaves.
Research and Evidence
Rachel Kapembwa, Training Officer at the Natural Resources Development Centre (NRDC), emphasized the urgent need for local research evidence to support agroecology in Zambia.
“Most of the available data on agroecology comes from research conducted in other countries. There is a strong need to generate evidence within Zambia and across the region to guide the adoption of agroecological strategies,” Kapembwa said.
She stressed that local evidence is crucial for shaping reforms in agricultural training and education.
“Training institutions need to review and update their curricula by incorporating agroecological principles into existing courses and programs,” she noted.
Kapembwa further explained that agroecology is not only about agronomy but also involves scientific, social, and political dimensions.
“A holistic approach to training is essential to ensure effective implementation,” she added.
Here’s a cleaned-up, logically ordered, and concise version of your feature section on Richard Mumba, keeping all information intact, removing repetitions, and attributing all points clearly:
Richard Mumba of CAMCO, who promotes organic rice, highlighted both the opportunities and challenges in advancing organic agriculture in Zambia.
“When looking at the products we promote, I would highlight our organic rice. It offers significant health benefits, and we produce both polished rice and drum rice to cater to different market segments,” Mumba said.
He explained that promoting organic products requires strategic partnerships and increased investment to support farmers.
“One of the major challenges in promoting organic products is the high cost of certification, which requires strict compliance with international standards.
To navigate this, we need strategic partnerships with institutions that can support certification, including exploring regional options,” he said.
Mumba stressed the importance of capacity building and financing to strengthen agroecological production.
“The key to success will be capacity building for farmers because knowledge transfer is crucial. Funding is also a major constraint. While the national budget alone is not sufficient, contributions from stakeholders and private investors are necessary,” he said.
He added that improving market investments would help farmers increase productivity and access better markets.
“At the national level, financing investments into markets would help ease this pressure. Supporting farmers with both knowledge and funding will enhance productivity and market access,” Mumba said.
Policy and National Strategy
Joseph Cheelo, Principal Agricultural Specialist from the Ministry of Agriculture, called for Zambia to move away from overreliance on maize production and adopt diversified farming systems anchored on agroecology to improve food security, soil health, and farmers’ incomes.
Speaking during discussions on the development of the national agroecology strategy, Cheelo said Zambia’s agricultural sector has long been dominated by maize monoculture, limiting the country’s agricultural potential.
“Most farmers focus on maize because that is where government support has been concentrated. Excessive chemical use has degraded soil structure, so farmers now depend heavily on external inputs,” he said.
He noted that this overreliance has historically led some to refer to the Ministry of Agriculture as the “Ministry of Maize.”
While maize remains important, focusing on a single crop is unsustainable and has created challenges for smallholder farmers.
“Economic analysis of maize production often shows limited profitability for smallholders, especially when production costs and fluctuating yields are considered,” Cheelo said.
Decades of chemical fertilizer and pesticide use have degraded soils, reducing fertility and productivity.
“Soils have gradually lost their natural fertility. Farmers now depend heavily on external inputs because the soil can no longer provide the nutrients it once did,” he explained.
Cheelo emphasized that agroecology could restore soil health, protect water resources, enhance biodiversity, and improve long-term productivity.
He described agroecology as a system integrating multiple crops, better soil management, and environmentally sustainable practices.
“Adopting agroecological practices will take time. Restoring degraded soils and transforming farming systems requires patience and sustained effort. But we must start somewhere,” he said.
The national agroecology strategy aims to promote a diversified agricultural system that supports healthier diets, better markets, and improved livelihoods for farmers.
“Increased crop diversification will not only improve food security but also promote more balanced nutrition among Zambians,” he said.
Consultations on the strategy involve farmers, government institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders. Nine provinces have been consulted, with Northern Province remaining.
“We started by consulting the provinces because national documents must reflect the views of people across the country,” he said.
After consultations, experts will compile input into a draft strategy for further review and validation, with the goal of launching it before the end of the second quarter.
Stakeholders also raised concerns about market access, the revival of indigenous crops, and food safety challenges such as aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts.
“Encouraging farmers to diversify production will only succeed if reliable markets exist. Reviving traditional crops can improve resilience to climate change and create new market opportunities.
Agroecology provides a way to address these challenges by promoting sustainable practices that prioritize soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity,” Cheelo said.
He concluded by highlighting the importance of evolving Zambia’s agriculture into a system that is sustainable, diversified, and beneficial for both farmers and consumers.
“Agriculture remains a key sector for Zambia’s development, but it must evolve into a system that is sustainable, diversified, and beneficial for both farmers and consumers,” he said.
Call for Investment to Scale up Agroecology
Agriculture stakeholders have called for stronger research, financing, and farmer training systems to support the expansion of agroecology in Zambia, citing funding constraints, certification costs, and limited local research as key challenges.
The ministry’s emerging National Agroecology Strategy aims to reverse this trajectory.
Consultations have been conducted in nine provinces, involving farmers, civil society organisations, government bodies, and other stakeholders.
A draft will undergo technical review and national validation before submission for approval.
"The strategy is intended to belong to the nation — not just the ministry," Cheelo said.
Indigenous Seeds, Youth, and Financing
Wamunyima Muketoi, Country Manager of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM Zambia), called for the integration of indigenous seeds into agricultural programmes, emphasizing their resilience in the face of drought.
“We would like to see the inclusion of indigenous seeds in agricultural programmes because they are drought resistant,” Muketoi said.
He noted that indigenous varieties are well-adapted to local conditions and can help farmers cope with climate variability.
Muketoi also stressed the importance of supporting small-scale farmers with technical training.
He highlighted the use of organic inputs, such as compost and bokashi fertilizer, as sustainable methods to improve soil fertility and crop productivity.
In addition, he emphasized that youth should be actively involved in production processes to generate employment opportunities and promote long-term sustainability in rural communities.
Access to credit remains a significant barrier for many smallholder farmers.
Muketoi pointed out that most farmers lack collateral, particularly titled land, which limits their ability to secure loans.
He called for financial reforms and innovative mechanisms that would make credit more accessible to small-scale farmers, allowing them to invest in inputs, expand production, and adopt agroecological practices.
He further emphasized the need for clear implementation plans and strong extension services to support farmers on the ground.
Scientific Support and Scaling
Sumini Sampa of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) emphasized the critical role of scientific research in promoting agroecology and influencing policy.
“Our work will generate the evidence needed to influence policy. Without scientific data, it is difficult to encourage policymakers to adopt agroecological approaches,” Sampa said.
She explained that rigorous research provides the foundation for demonstrating the practical and economic benefits of sustainable farming methods.
Sampa stressed that all research activities are aligned with national priorities while directly responding to farmers’ needs and challenges.
Sampa also highlighted opportunities for scaling agroecology through school feeding programmes, which can serve as a platform for promoting locally produced, nutritious foods while engaging youth in agriculture.
She argued that involving young people in agroecology not only addresses unemployment but also builds a generation of farmers who are knowledgeable in sustainable and resilient farming systems.
“Agroecology addresses biodiversity loss caused by conventional farming systems. It helps protect ecosystems, improves soil health, and ensures food security while supporting climate resilience,” Sampa said.
She emphasized that scientific evidence is key to demonstrating these benefits and encouraging wider adoption among farmers and policymakers.
"Agriculture remains a key sector for Zambia’s development, but it must evolve into a system that is sustainable, diversified, and beneficial for both farmers and consumers," Sampa said.
Evidence, Data, and Policy Advocacy
She said discussions on pricing should focus on commodities produced by farmers rather than the farming practices used.
"There is simply not enough reliable data on how many farmers are practising agroecology or how much land is under such systems. This makes it difficult to build a strong case for agroecology," Nketani explained.
She emphasised that promoting agroecology and sustainable agriculture should focus on the value of agricultural products.
“When we talk about agroecology and sustainable agriculture, the focus should be on the products farmers produce,” Nketani said.
Government support, she noted, is crucial for helping farmers transition to sustainable farming methods.
According to Nketani, the government, through extension services, should invest in incentives that encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
She stressed that these incentives must be part of a broader strategy to promote healthy and sustainable food systems.
Credible evidence is essential for convincing policymakers to support agroecology.
Nketani explained that stakeholders must present reliable data showing that agroecological farming can increase productivity while maintaining national production targets.
“To engage policymakers effectively, especially the Head of State who is also a farmer, we must present clear statistics demonstrating that agroecology can contribute to national production goals,” she said.
Nketani reiterated that a major challenge in Zambia is the lack of reliable data on agroecological farming, including the number of farmers practising it and the land under such systems.
“This gap in data makes it difficult to build a strong case for agroecology,” she said, adding that investment in research and data collection is essential.
Analysing such data, Nketani said, helps demonstrate how agroecological practices improve productivity over time.
She noted that results cannot be achieved within a single season but require sustained effort.
“After about five years, it should be possible to show measurable improvements and reduced yield gaps,” she explained.
Accurate data, she stressed, is critical for influencing policy decisions because policymakers need clear figures to understand how sustainable agriculture can feed a growing population.
Nketani also called for stronger collaboration among government ministries to transform Zambia’s food system.
She said ZAAB has been engaging various institutions, though more dialogue is needed for broader participation.
She explained that transforming the food system requires coordination between sectors such as agriculture, health, and nutrition, citing ongoing discussions on strategies to strengthen food systems through locally produced foods.
Private sector involvement, Nketani emphasised, is also vital for developing agroecology.
Businesses can help create markets and value chains for diversified agricultural products, while providing services such as processing, input supply, and distribution.
She added that agriculture offers business opportunities, including supplying organic inputs for agroecological farming, although these opportunities remain underdeveloped.
Zambia, she noted, is well positioned to advance agroecology because its leadership understands agriculture.
“This presents an opportunity to develop policies that support agroecological farming and integrate it into national development strategies,” Nketani said.
She added that agricultural development must also address challenges like climate change and population growth.
Sustainable agricultural intensification, she argued, will be necessary to increase food production without expanding farmland or damaging the environment.
She also called for a shift in how agricultural performance is measured.
Nketani said traditional yield measurements often focus only on production in a single season, overlooking long-term sustainability and environmental costs.
She suggested better indicators, including long-term farmer income, nutritional benefits, and sustainability of production systems.
Agriculture, she noted, extends beyond crop production to include value addition, processing, marketing, and distribution. Expanding these activities, she said, would increase agriculture’s contribution to the economy.
Nketani encouraged stakeholders to develop clear plans and targets for expanding agroecology, including identifying the number of farmers involved and the institutions responsible for implementation.
She concluded that while agroecology is increasingly recognised as a solution to climate change and food system challenges, its success depends on coordinated action, strong data, supportive policies, and active participation from government and the private sector.
Nketani argued that the conversation should shift from practices to products, focusing on measurable outcomes.
"When talking to policymakers, particularly a Head of State who is also a farmer, advocates need clear statistics showing that agroecological farming can meet national production targets," she said.
She reiterated that the evidence takes time: "After about five years, it should be possible to show measurable improvements and reduced yield gaps."
Conclusion
The national agroecology strategy, initiated in 2022 through engagement between civil society, government, and international partners, represents the most formal attempt yet to coordinate these efforts.
Whether it succeeds will depend on whether Zambia can do what Loctaguna’s farm has demonstrated: show that working with nature is not just ethical, but economically and socially rational.
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