Forging Relationships for Collaboration with Government Ministries
Meeting with Hon. John Mulongoti, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, who detailed the Ministry's drought response and current challenges.
PArt 2 of A blog series by CEO Carolyn Hall on her visit to Zambia in July, 2024.
Meeting with the Ministry for Agriculture
We met with Hon. John Mulongoti, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, who detailed the Ministry's drought response and current challenges. Discussions included policies to improve water catchment, landscape restoration, regenerative practices, and other sustainable agriculture techniques to drought-proof dry regions. We also explored soil carbon capture and potential income from natural capital and carbon offsets.
Meeting with the Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries
Discussions with Minister for Livestock and Fisheries The Hon Makozo Chikote and his technical team focused on the interventions and aid offered by the government to mitigate the impacts of the severe drought and its challenges. The Zambian government aims to increase cattle production from 4.5 million to 7 million by 2027. We identified opportunities for collaboration in sustainable agriculture, livestock management and drought resilience.
Supporting SMEs in agriculture
SME’s in Zambia, like Australia make up over 90% of the economy. During our meeting with Ms. Subeta K. Mutelo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises Development, she detailed initiatives supporting small farmers. These include loans for equipment, improved supermarket access, and market entry support. Despite these efforts, remote farmers face challenges. We also explored how Australian agencies assist with exports to draw parallels and insights for Zambia's agricultural sector.
Meeting with The Honorable Princess Kasune Zulu, Minister for Justice
We had the privilege of meeting Hon Princess Kasune Zulu, the Zambian Minister for Justice, to explore the intersection of conservation and environmental protection with social justice. The Princess is internationally recognised for her work on climate change and expressed her admiration for Australian farmers, highlighting her personal linkages with Australia.
