Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Ms. Olipa N. Lungu

Member since
Organization: The University of Zambia
Country: Zambia
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:

1. Renewable energy sources from, and for agrifood systems under the Facility for Climate Action to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) as a Focal Point Person for School of Agricultural Sciences, and a Core Team Member for WP8 (FACE-NDC Project).
2. Also working on case studies on how to integrate Climate Smart Agriculture and Climate Information Systems in Higher Education Curricula in Zambia (AICCRA Project).q1

This member contributed to:

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      Question 1

      In Zambia, agrifood systems are affected by climate change and inherent land degradation, resulting in low, and poor-quality yields among most small holder farmers, who are the majority of producers.

      To advance the Science-Policy Interface (SPI) in The Country’s agrifood systems, the FAO can support by bridging the gap between research and stakeholders through initializing already existing policies such as “The need to do-away with ‘Blanket Fertiliser Recommendations’ in production” (Chapoto et. al., 2016). Additionally, there’s urgent need to promote affordable periodic soil tests in order to ensure effective utilization of the available land and water resources. 

      As Zambia continues to prioritize the agricultural sector to boost its economy, through agrifood systems transformation, it is imperative to foster sustainable practices across the entire food value chain. This is to be better-realised through its Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program (CASP), where the Country aims at improving livestock and agricultural crop production by enhancing water and irrigation management (AfDB, 2023).

      FAO can, therefore, assist the Country by aligning its support to current policies, and initiatives, and enhancing them, where possible, for example;

      a)    Development of irrigation farm blocks; which will reduce impacts of climatic shocks suck as droughts. The irrigated farm blocks can be in all the districts with priority to the most drought-hit areas.

      An agroecological approach based on variations in annual precipitation variations, and edaphic factors can be used in this initiative.

      b)    Promoting the use of renewable energy sources for powering irrigation schemes for crop and livestock production, and food processing for value addition as well as preservation. Since food loss and waste remain a major challenge in agrifood systems, this initiative is very important as it will also cater for storage facilities in major market places, thereby creating employment. 

      c)    Capacity-building in climate and market information use for small-holder farmers; to ensure that farmers maximize their production, (while taking advantage of the already secured markets for produce in China, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and the European Union) through training in climate information services and products.

      d)    Sponsoring behavioral or mind-set change initiatives aimed at shifting from Maize, as a major carbohydrate source, to more nutrient-rich and climate-resilient alternatives such as Sorghum, Cassava, etc., especially in children so that they acquire a taste for these.

       

      Question 2

      The SPI Guidance has covered all the key aspects of agrifood systems at national level but in Section 2 and also case study section, the Guidance can further include ways of mapping existing policies from the different actors, particularly those related to increasing the resilience of agrifood systems to climatic shocks, environmental degradation, pandemics and conflicts.

       

      Question 4

      In Section 5, on “Activities to ensure that the production and synthesis of knowledge is relevant and actionable for policy”, it can be specifically included on communication to use Animated productions. These increase the integration of all types of stakeholders, including the youth and young, who sometimes form a cardinal source of information to some farmers in remote areas. The activities should deliberately increase information ease of access and uptake, such as through music and art. Lastly, more information on indigenous knowledge and practices could also be included.

       

      Sources:

      Africa Development Bank (AfDB, 2023) Dakar 2 Zambia Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compact.Accessed on 7th May, 2024 from https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/zambia_country_food_and_agriculture_delivery_compact.pdf

      Chapoto et. al. (2016) A Long History of Low Productivity in Zambia: Is It Time To Do Away With Blanket Recommendations? Accessed on 7th May, 2024 from https://www.academia.edu/69327578/A_Long_History_of_Low_Productivity_in_Zambia_Is_it_Time_to_Do_Away_with_Blanket_Recommendations