(FoDiS)Project

SUMMARY OF THE FOOD CROP DIVERSIFICATION SUPPORT PROJECT FOR ENHANCEMENT OF FOOD SECURITY IN ZAMBIA.

1. Background

Food shortages in Zambia result from high dependency on rain-fed cultivation where drought usually entails a food crisis. This is particularly serious among small scale farmers and prevalence of the monoculture of maize production at the expense of crops tolerant to drought exacerbates the impact of drought on the food situation. Maize cultivation has been promoted in all parts of the country (without due consideration to agronomic suitability) for a long time since independence era, 1960s. As a consequence, small scale farmers even in drought prone areas are growing maize. Since maize is susceptible to drought, agricultural production can be dramatically low in case of adverse weather conditions.

The Food Crop Diversification Support Project was formulated by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Zambia Agricultural Research Institution (ZARI) with a view of enhancing food security by promoting drought tolerant food crops.

2. Implementation Arrangements

2.1 Implementation Organizations

Two Zambian organizations under MACO, namely the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) and Department of Agriculture, are the key implementers of the Project in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

2.2 Roles of the Implementing Organizations

ZARI is the main implementing organization of the Project, while the Department of Agriculture is the co-implementing organization of the Project. ZARI will be involved with the production and distribution of planting materials in its research stations. They will supply the materials and provide counter part personnel.

The Department of Agriculture will provide counterparts for the purpose of extension services in the project. The extension services, in collaboration with other stakeholders, extend the knowledge of how to handle planting materials from the research to the farmers.

2.3 Project Administration

The Project Director is the Director of Department of Policy and Planning on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture in MACO. The Project Manager is the Director of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), who will work in close liaison with the Director of Agriculture.

The Project Manager is responsible for administration and implementation of the Project while the Project Director provides support and oversees the Project activities. The Project Director bears the overall responsibility of the Project.

3. Project Outline

3.1 Project Purpose

Food crop diversification is realized in order to reduce over-dependency on maize in target areas.

3.2 Key Expected Project Outputs

<Output 1>
The multiplication and distribution system for improved varieties of cassava and sweet potato planting materials is established.

<Output 2>
Suitable drought tolerant food crops, other than cassava and sweet potatoes, are identified and local production of these crops is improved.

<Output 3>
Extension activities for promotion of target food crops are enhanced.

<Output 4>
Various types of processing, preservation and utilization technologies for target food crops are disseminated.

3.3 . Target Areas

Ten (10) districts in drought prone areas were identified tentatively in Agro-ecological Zone I and II, namely: Gwembe, Siavonga and Sinazongwe in Southern Province; Chongwe and Luangwa in Lusaka Province; Nyimba, Petauke and Mambwe in Eastern Province; and Sesheke and Shangombo in Western Province. The actual districts to be selected will be reviewed during the project implementation.

3.4 Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are resource poor small-scale farmers in the above target areas. The target villages and the number of farmers will be identified jointly by JICA team and Zambian side during the project period.

4. Time frame

5 years; from 30th October 2006

5. Estimated Budget

Not yet clear but estimated to be about US $ 1.5 million. (The budgeting system under the technical cooperation is done yearly, based on planned activities for that period).

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