By Jonas Miselo
Kawambwa District Agricultural Coordinator, Steven Musonda, has highlighted a significant increase in rice production within the district, a success attributed to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Market-Oriented Rice Development Project (MOReDeP). Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this initiative has been pivotal in promoting rice cultivation across Kawambwa’s expansive 80,000 hectares of marshland, ideal for rice farming.
“Since 2021, when the MOReDeP program started, we have observed a substantial rise in the number of farmers cultivating rice and in the agricultural camps implementing the program. We now refer to it as a program rather than a project because it will continue beyond its initial phases,” Mr. Musonda explained.
He added, “Due to the income from rice production, farmers are increasingly shifting towards rice because of its profitability compared to other crops, and it requires fewer inputs like fertilizer.”
Mr. Musonda also noted that farmers are now investing in machinery to streamline their work and boost profits. “Initially, farmers were using hand hoes, but rice cultivation here requires intensive land preparation because of the heavy soils in the marshes. Farmers are now pooling resources to hire tractors, which has enabled them to prepare more land efficiently. This shift is unlocking the potential of these marshes, as farmers realize that investing in their land leads to higher returns.”
He urged local farmers to consider rice as a viable and profitable crop, noting Kawambwa’s ideal environment for rice cultivation.
Frank Kunda, Crop Husbandry Officer at the Kawambwa District Agriculture Office, detailed the close collaboration between the Ministry, MOReDeP, and local farmers. He emphasized how on-the-ground demonstrations, access to essential farming equipment, and enhanced market linkages have empowered farmers to capitalize on Kawambwa’s agricultural potential. “When MOReDeP began, we only had four agricultural camps involved with around 50 rice farmers per camp, totaling about 200 farmers. Before this, there were only few rice farmers in the district. Mr. Kunda shared. “Since the program launched in 2021, that number has grown, with 200 farmers receiving technical training in quality seed selection, planting, weeding, and post-harvest techniques. MOReDeP has also provided line markers, guide ropes, tents, and threshing stands to assist these farmers.”
In addition, JICA facilitated market linkages to address farmers’ initial market concerns. As of now, there are eight agricultural camps under MOReDeP, with another four initiated by the Ministry, inspired by JICA’s camps.
Among the farmers seeing success is Monica Chansa from Luena Agriculture Camp who ventured into rice farming after observing the profits her friends were making. “After trying it for the first time, I harvested 20 bags of rice from just one lima,” she shared. Encouraged by her initial success, she is expanding her field to three lima this year. “I saw the potential in rice farming, and now I’m eager to scale up my production,” she added.
One farmer, Derrick Chishala, shared his experiences and the benefits he has seen in rice farming. “When I started, I only had a quarter lima as a demo plot. But after MOReDeP’s involvement, I expanded to a full hectare,” he explained. Mr. Chishala also highlighted rice’s economic advantage over maize, noting that a bag of rice currently sells for K700–K800, compared to maize at around K400.
Mr. Chishala added that the project has made farming more efficient: “We used to rely on hoes, which was time-consuming and costly. With access to tractors now, it only takes about three hours to cultivate a lima, significantly improving our productivity.” He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and JICA for their support, encouraging other farmers to engage with organizations like JICA and the Ministry. “Rice farming has proven more profitable than maize for me, and I believe it can be for others too,” he said.
With ongoing support from the Ministry of Agriculture and JICA, Kawambwa District is well-positioned to become a leading rice-producing region in Zambia, creating new economic opportunities for farmers and enriching the district’s agricultural diversity.
