The governments of Zambia and the United States of America have signed a landmark US$491.75 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Zambia Farm-to-Market Compact to enhance agriculture and agro-processing sectors across the country. The signing ceremony took place in Lusaka, with President Hakainde Hichilema highlighting the importance of the grant in driving Zambia’s economic recovery and transformation agenda.
This debt-free grant consists of US$458 million from the MCC and US$33.75 million from the Zambian government. It is designed to strengthen food security, reduce the cost of transporting goods to markets, and increase access to farming equipment and financing for agricultural infrastructure. The initiative also aims to catalyze policy reforms to attract more private investment in Zambia’s agriculture sector.
Upgrading Roads to Enhance Market Access
Key infrastructure projects under the Compact include the upgrading of major roads, such as the Chipata-Lundazi road to Magodi and the Mumbwa to Landless Corner road. These improvements are expected to enhance market access for farmers and unlock the agricultural productivity in those regions.
President Hichilema emphasized that the grant fits perfectly into Zambia’s economic recovery program, especially following the successful restructuring of the country’s debt. “This compact comes at the right time and aligns with our transformation agenda,” said the President. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United States and encouraged more US private sector investments in Zambia.
Collaborative Efforts and Sector Productivity
The President appealed to all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to increase their productivity to fully benefit from the Compact. He expressed gratitude to the American people and government for their continued support and underlined that this grant reflects the deepening ties between the two nations.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane highlighted that the Compact was developed through a consultative process involving academia, civil society, and other stakeholders. He explained that the roads selected for upgrading were chosen due to their high agricultural potential and productivity.
The Farm-to-Market Compact is expected to significantly boost Zambia’s agricultural sector by lowering transportation costs, increasing market access, and promoting private investment, laying a strong foundation for long-term economic growth.
This initiative signals a new chapter in US-Zambia cooperation, with both governments committed to building a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Can’t wait to see this actualized. We have talked enough; now let’s put boots on the ground and see some action.
” Debt free grant”……no wonder we will never develop…and praise singers because of their begger mentality will start jumping up and down…WHEN WILL AFRICANS LEARN TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR BREADCRUMBS FROM THE WEST….
Germany Japan most of Europe and can even put China in there had American aid to develop direct money or preferential treatment. You take the grant and make the most that can of it maybe you will be able to give grant one day .
Grant and Aid has been flowing into the country but nothing much has been happening
On the ground.Hope a new dawn era will bring
Change this time.
A borrower is always a slave of the lender, we have natural resources that we should have turning into finished products but no we give all at cheap prices… politicians are demons in flesh
This is how low we stooped, good at receiving handouts.. kwena!!! Sometimes you wonder who bewitched our leaders from the beginning of time. You see them with suits, their fancy cars & houses with big tummies with Zambian english accent. My fellow country men, you are own your own, non of them gives a hoot.
And i said Jail is for the poor people…in a few days time GBM will be a free man after ” serving his 5 year sentence with hard labor “….so only crooked Politicians can appeal their sentences…..
When will we also start lending or giving money to other nations? We’re like a family where everyone depends on the first born
Look at the tribal haters above, always complaining, they never offer constructive ideas……….
Picture this………
GRZ should establish micro farming sectors run by provern Gardeners ……..
These 30 acre blocks will have a solar bore hole, tank and irrigation with plots divided to accommodate 30 gardens for the production of vegetable crops………
These micro farming communities can be enhanced with fish ponds designed so that the water from the bore hole reaches the fish ponds first then nutrient rich water runs off through irrigation channels to the gardening plots………
These micro blocks can form cooperatives to market and sell the produce with competitions for best run blocks bring held…….
……..Whole framing eco systems can be created by these farming blocks…….
Mmmmm……haters……think like that
Forwadee 2031
Different farming blocks can be created specifically for growing spices, flowers and blocks for fruits……..
These are all fenced off self contained farming blocks with toilets, a weighing and packaging selling area and a cooking area for the farmers ……….
Mmmmmm…….think along those lines……
We are here…..
Forwadee 2031
@SPAKE is bewitched big time!!!!! No one is condemning any tribe above, you are the tribalistic backward goon. TSEKI man!!!
@SPAKA i mean. Chimbwi no plan
IGNORE ZESCO AT YOU OWN PERIL