Contract farming and seed multiplication will open new opportunities for Zambian youth in the soybean sector

A new initiative is taking shape in Zambia's soybean value chain by laying the groundwork and placing youth at the center of certified seed multiplication through contract farming with established private seed companies. This innovative model, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Integrated Country Approach for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agrifood system (ICA-4), aims to address persistent challenges such as limited access and high costs of certified seeds, while creating profitable employment opportunities for young men and young women in Central and Eastern Provinces.

By applying a market systems development approach, ICA-4 focuses on supporting national stakeholders in Zambia – including policymakers, market actors and youth organizations – in designing and implementing sustainable, inclusive and scalable solutions for generating decent employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in agrifood value chains as well as facilitating knowledge exchange and policy dialogue and empower national stakeholders in the soybean sector.

Empowering youth through contract farming and capacity building

“The project is built on findings from a Youth-Sensitive Market Systems Assessment of the soybean sector, which identified systemic barriers that hinder youth involvement in agrifood systems. By promoting contract farming arrangements, the initiative seeks to expand the local supply of high-quality, drought-tolerant soybean seed, tackling the widespread reliance on recycled seeds that contributes to low productivity and increased vulnerability to climate risks,” explained Ileana Grandelis, Programme Officer at the Decent Rural Employment Team, Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP).

To facilitate the adoption of a more youth-inclusive approach by seed companies, the project aims to facilitate youth access to training on seed multiplication in partnership with the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), and to support  related innovations, including blended training approaches, for reducing the cost of training in the future. Through the implementation of the pilot, the project will identify and address potential barriers in partnership with seed companies and SCCI and promote transparent contracts that reduce risks for both companies and youth groups.

Despite the existence of outgrower schemes, many young people remain unaware of or unable to access these opportunities due to gaps in dedicated information, training, and support – particularly in remote communities. Current beneficiaries are often affiliated with larger cooperatives, leaving smaller groups at a disadvantage.

To address these challenges, the project will hire a local contract farming expert to guide the youth during the process and provide training to participating youth groups to help them understand the fundamentals of fair contracting. Additional consultations will be organized for youth soybean seed producer groups and buyers to discuss, negotiate and agree on the terms of the contract.  

“Tailored support will be provided so that contract farming models are designed more youth-friendly, effective, transparent and fair, ensuring that everyone involved understands their rights and responsibilities. Efforts extend to strengthening youth connections and ability to deal with financial partners, making co-investment more accessible, and piloting complementary innovations such as agricultural insurance, solar-powered irrigation, and sustainable waste management practices to enhance resilience and sustainability,” said Sonja Barwitzki, Sustainable Value Chains Specialist at the Decent Rural Employment Team, Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP).

Pilot phase underway

Several Zambian seed companies have shown strong interest in scaling up contract farming with youth cooperatives and enterprises, recognizing the potential to cut production costs and broaden their reach among rural smallholders. Following a public call in May 2025, more than 130 youth-led cooperatives and enterprises expressed interest in the seed multiplication model. Field verification and discussions with private sector partners are currently underway to select 10 to 20 youth-led groups for the pilot phase in Eastern and Central Province in Zambia.

Through these efforts, FAO and its partners aim to demonstrate how contract farming can serve as a pathway for youth integration into high-value agricultural commodities, driving rural job creation and improved productivity in Zambia's soybean sector.