Agriculture is a cornerstone of Zambia’s economy, providing employment for over 60% of the population and serving as a vital source of food security. Recognizing the sector’s vulnerability to climate change, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)in Zambia, with support from the Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology (Agroecology TPP), is spearheading strategies to enhance resilience and sustainability.
Among its key contributions is the development of Zambia’s National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy for Fall Armyworm. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on harmful chemical pesticides while promoting environmentally sound pest control methods. Set for launch in November 2024, ahead of the next farming season, the strategy was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It underscores a commitment to minimizing environmental harm and protecting human health by prioritizing agroecological approaches that enhance plant health and resilience while mitigating pest damage.
A diverse array of seeds on display. Photo by Lydia Amanzi / CIFOR-ICRAF
CIFOR-ICRAF has also played a crucial role in shaping the National Crop Diversification Strategy, which advocates for diversified cropping systems to strengthen food security and climate resilience. Through practices such as crop rotation and agroforestry, the strategy aims to improve soil health, curb pest infestations, and reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climatic shocks.
During the initiative’s launch, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo, emphasized the significance of diversifying food sources: “We have faced food-related challenges, including widespread malnutrition due to a maize-dominated diet. This strategy will help the country produce a more varied and nutritious food supply.”
Professor Harrison explaining CIFOR-ICRAF’s work to Reuben Mtolo, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture. Photo by Lydia Amanzi / CIFOR-ICRAF
David Chikoye, IITA Regional Coordinator, highlighted the broader impact of the IPM strategy: “This initiative will strengthen farmers’ resilience in key areas, including nutrition, pest control and soil fertility. It also equips them to better withstand climate-induced challenges such as droughts and floods, frequently disrupting crop production.”
A recent CIFOR-ICRAF study, supported by NORAD and conducted in collaboration with the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), reinforced the benefits of sustainable practices. The research found that smallholder farmers employing intercropping, mulching and agroforestry techniques were more successful in fostering natural pest enemies, including those targeting the fall armyworm. The study further cautioned against over-reliance on synthetic pesticides, aligning with WHO recommendations that advocate for their use only as a last resort to protect both environmental and public health.
“Many natural enemies of pests, including the fall armyworm, inhabit and thrive within farming landscapes. Farmers can leverage these beneficial organisms to mitigate crop damage while reducing dependency on chemical interventions,” noted Professor Harrison, underlining the value of agroecological approaches.
Through collaboration with government agencies, research institutions, NGOs and local communities, CIFOR-ICRAF Zambia is driving the adoption of sustainable agricultural methods. The organization is advancing biodiversity, improving soil health and bolstering climate resilience by promoting agroecology. Key strategies include agroforestry, integrated pest management and crop diversification—reducing reliance on synthetic inputs while fostering a healthier farming ecosystem. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that policies and programs are tailored to local conditions, making agroecology a viable and scalable solution for rural communities in Zambia and beyond.
We want you to share Forests News content, which is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This means you are free to redistribute our material for non-commercial purposes. All we ask is that you give Forests News appropriate credit and link to the original Forests News content, indicate if changes were made, and distribute your contributions under the same Creative Commons license. You must notify Forests News if you repost, reprint or reuse our materials by contacting forestsnews@cifor-icraf.org.
