Tree crops research in Zambia dates back to the 1940s, beginning with early efforts to introduce and evaluate oil palm. The scope of research expanded over time to include coffee in the late 1950s and tea in the 1960s, laying the foundation for a structured programme that was formally established in the early 1970s. Since then, the programme has evolved in response to changing production systems, market demands, and emerging challenges such as climate variability, pests, and diseases.
The programme’s work centres on identifying tree crops with strong potential for Zambia, developing complete production and propagation packages, and addressing key constraints affecting productivity. Research activities have included cultivar evaluation, nutrient requirement and supplementation studies, intercropping systems, and propagation methodologies aimed at producing high-quality, disease-free planting materials. Over the years, a wide range of tree crops have been evaluated, including mango, citrus, banana, coffee, tea, cashew nut, grapes, peaches, palm trees, loquats, passion fruit, and moringa.
Through applied research and close linkages with extension and other stakeholders, the Tree Crops Research Programme continues to support the expansion of viable, productive, and resilient tree crop systems in Zambia.
The programme focuses on improving nursery systems through the development and refinement of vegetative propagation methods that enable the production of large quantities of affordable, standardised, uniform, and disease-free planting materials. These activities are primarily carried out at Mount Makulu Research Station. Seedlings produced in the nurseries are used for research and evaluation, with a proportion made available to farmers at the lowest possible cost to support adoption and expansion of tree crop production.
The programme works in close collaboration with the soil survey team within the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute to validate soil–crop relationships and develop crop suitability maps. These maps delineate the country into specific fruit and tree crop production belts based on soil characteristics and agro-climatic conditions, providing a scientific basis for guiding farmers, investors, and policymakers on appropriate crop placement and management.
The programme, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is involved in the development and introduction of improved tree crop varieties to respond to emerging challenges such as increasing pest and disease pressure, climate variability, and changing consumer and market preferences. This work includes the identification, selection, and evaluation of promising introduced materials as well as local germplasm. While limited systematic introduction and evaluation has taken place over the past two decades, current efforts aim to strengthen this area through structured testing, adaptation studies, and performance evaluation under local conditions.
Tree crops are long-term investments, often remaining in the field for 30 years or more, making them particularly vulnerable to the economic impacts of pests and diseases. The high cost of orchard establishment and the long period before trees reach full economic production heighten the risks associated with new and emerging threats. To address this, the programme works closely with the Plant Protection Research Programme to develop effective strategies for the prevention, early detection, and control of pests and diseases in orchards. These efforts focus on integrated, sustainable approaches that safeguard tree health, protect farmer investments, and ensure long-term productivity of tree crop systems.
The Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), in collaboration with the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) and the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service (PQPS), successfully
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Rome, Italy – 16th October 2025 – Zambia has been honoured with the FAO Global Technical Recognition Award for outstanding achievements in sustainable plant production
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