Zambia Looks to Ethiopia’s Food Systems Model for Agricultural Growth

The  Zambian Government is exploring Ethiopia’s successful Poultry and Avocado Value-Chain Initiative as a blueprint for transforming its own food systems and boosting agricultural productivity.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, Lillian Kapusana, highlighted Zambia’s commitment to learning from Ethiopia’s innovative clustering model, which has significantly improved nutritional outcomes and enhanced export potential. She made these remarks during a field tour held on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake in Ethiopia.

Ms. Kapusana emphasized the need for Zambia to organize smallholder farmers into cooperatives. This approach, she said, would help increase economies of scale, improve quality control, and ensure Zambian agricultural products meet international export standards.

Despite a bumper harvest of staple crops in 2025, Ms. Kapusana stressed the importance of diversifying Zambia’s agricultural portfolio. She noted the need to promote protein-rich foods and high-value crops such as poultry, avocado, and vegetables to strengthen both food security and economic resilience.

Ethiopia’s success is evident in its Modjo poultry facility, which processes up to 350,000 birds per production cycle. The facility features a cutting-edge processing line that can handle 3,000 birds per hour, significantly boosting productivity and value addition across the poultry chain.

In addition, Ethiopia’s avocado production cluster covers 163 hectares and involves 587 smallholder households. This model has enabled farmers to increase production and tap into lucrative export markets like the United Kingdom and Spain—generating crucial foreign exchange and showcasing the benefits of a well-coordinated smallholder farming structure.

Zambia’s Agriculture Minister, Reuben Mtolo, is representing President Hakainde Hichilema at the high-level summit in Addis Ababa. The event brings together global and regional leaders to review progress and reaffirm commitments to building sustainable and inclusive food systems.

This information was shared in a statement issued by Hambaya Munang’andu, the First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia.