Mpika District Commissioner David Siame has called on farmers in Mpika to adopt climate-smart farming practices, warning that erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells will keep punishing harvests unless Zambian farmers change how they work the land. He made the call on Monday, October 27, 2026, at a farmer preparedness workshop in Mpika organized by the Solutions for Training in Agriculture and Resource Transformation (START) initiative, according to LusakaTimes.com.
This is our land, our food, and our future. And the message from Mpika is clear: Zambia feeds itself with Zambian hands, Zambian seed, and Zambian know-how.
What the District Commissioner said
Siame told farmers that agriculture remains the backbone of food, income and employment for many households in the district. But he did not sugarcoat the challenge. Climate variability is real, and farmers must adopt sustainable methods and technologies that can withstand changing weather patterns.
He said the Grow Zambia Agenda offers a framework for economic transformation, with agriculture at the center of production, job creation and better livelihoods for our people.
He also pressed for affordable inputs, appropriate financing, reliable climate information and improved technologies for farmers, and stressed the need for sustainable water management and irrigation systems so that Zambian farmers stop depending on seasonal rainfall alone.
Siame urged farmers at the workshop to share the knowledge acquired with fellow farmers in their communities to broaden the adoption of sustainable farming methods.
We are encouraging you to share the knowledge acquired with fellow farmers in your communities to broaden the adoption of sustainable farming methods.
He commended the START initiative for its commitment to agricultural training and community empowerment, particularly its proposed Growing Future projects, which include community-based practical training and agricultural training centers.
Climate-smart practices farmers were told to adopt
Siame listed concrete steps: conservation farming, soil moisture management, crop diversification and the use of climate-resilient seed varieties. These practices, he said, are essential in reducing farmers' vulnerability to drought and other climate-related risks.
He also emphasized timely weather forecasts and agricultural advisory services to help farmers make informed decisions on planting, crop selection and resource management. Farmers attending were asked to identify at least three practical climate-smart practices to adopt or strengthen on their farms.
The workshop is expected to provide practical information on seasonal climate outlooks, improved farming practices, agricultural inputs and weather-index insurance.
A similar call has gone out elsewhere. TV47 Digital reported that farmers in the Western region have been urged to embrace climate-smart farming, including drought-tolerant seeds, modern agricultural technologies and improved soil management, to mitigate the effects of climate change.
National targets: 10 million tonnes of maize by 2031
Mpika District Senior Agriculture Officer Sheila Mumba said government has prioritized climate-smart agriculture as a strategy for increasing crop production, in line with a presidential directive targeting 10 million metric tonnes of maize, three million metric tonnes of soybeans, one million metric tonnes of wheat and one million metric tonnes of sugarcane by 2031.
She said erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells and shifting growing seasons continue to threaten crop yields, food security and rural livelihoods. Climate-smart agriculture, she said, is essential to strengthening farmers' resilience while supporting national production targets.
Preparation matters on the input side too. Zambia Monitor reported that agro-dealers have been urged to maintain adequate FISP input stocks, and that eligible farmers should redeem their inputs in good time and follow official weather forecasts and extension advice on suitable crop varieties.
START initiative plans for 2027
START Initiative Board Chairperson Reverend Chrispin Suya announced plans to introduce school vegetable gardens and community-based agricultural training programmes next year to equip youths and small-scale farmers with practical farming skills.
Suya said the Growing Future project will be introduced in selected local schools to teach learners crop planning, production, agribusiness and practical farming skills. Early exposure to agriculture, he said, would help nurture a generation of productive and entrepreneurial farmers.
He said the organization will also conduct targeted community training in commercial soybean production, modern fish farming and improved livestock management, so farmers can venture into high-value agricultural enterprises.
START is also seeking land to establish a practical agricultural training centre where youths and farmers could receive hands-on training in modern agricultural methods, and intends to promote integrated farming systems and circular bio-systems to help farmers cut production costs through efficient resource use.
Why this matters for Zambia
Our farmers have fed this nation for generations. What Mpika is doing is what Zambia needs: training our own people, in our own district, with practical skills that keep profits and food in Zambian hands. Siame said sustainable agricultural development requires coordinated efforts among government, the private sector, civil society and farming communities, and that climate preparedness must be integrated into household and community-level agricultural planning.
The initiatives are expected to strengthen agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities and improve rural livelihoods.
FAQ
Who urged Mpika farmers to adopt climate-smart farming?
Mpika District Commissioner David Siame, speaking at a workshop organized by the START initiative in Mpika on October 27, 2026.
Which climate-smart practices were recommended?
Conservation farming, soil moisture management, crop diversification, climate-resilient seed varieties, irrigation and water management, and the use of weather forecasts and advisory services.
What are Zambia's national crop production targets?
A presidential directive targets 10 million metric tonnes of maize, three million metric tonnes of soybeans, one million metric tonnes of wheat and one million metric tonnes of sugarcane by 2031.