Government has urged young people to take a central role in transforming the country’s agriculture sector, stressing that their innovation and energy are critical to securing the nation’s food future amid the impact of one of the worst droughts in Zambia’s history.
Speaking during the 2025 International Youth Day commemoration at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka yesterday, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Hon. Elvis Nkandu, said the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” underscored the need to localise the Sustainable Development Goals through youth-led agricultural innovation.
He emphasised that involving young people in agri-food systems, climate-smart solutions, and green entrepreneurship is essential for Zambia’s socio-economic resilience.
“The innovativeness and creativity of the youth, if well channelled into agriculture, can be very useful,” Hon. Nkandu said. “As a country, our reality is that we are just coming from one of the biggest droughts in our history, and if we are not careful and well-prepared, our food security can easily be compromised.”
He highlighted government initiatives such as support for youth-owned cooperatives, access to land through resettlement programmes, and partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance youth participation in the sector.
The Minister also praised development partners for their continued collaboration, citing AGRA for technical leadership, the United Nations for advancing digital transformation, and agencies such as FAO, IFAD, SNV, Self Help Africa, and Hivos for co-hosting youth masterclasses.
Hon. Nkandu called on stakeholders to scale up investments in youth beyond short-term projects, advocating for long-term, integrated support in skills, capital, and opportunities.
And his counterpart from the Ministry of Agriculture, Honourable Reuben Mtolo Phiri reaffirmed government’s commitment under President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of “delivering for the people”, pointing to initiatives such as the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF), promotion of climate-smart agriculture, expansion of irrigation, enhanced mechanisation, and improved market access as key enablers of youth participation.
“These efforts will help us achieve our national targets of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 1 million metric tonnes of soybeans, and 1 million metric tonnes of wheat by 2031 but this can only happen if our young people step forward and take the lead.”
