Zambia’s Soil Revolution Begins

The Government of the Republic of Zambia, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with support from the United States, has officially launched the Zambia Soil Partnership (ZSP) and the Global Soil Doctors Programme (GSDP)—two major initiatives aimed at strengthening national coordination on sustainable soil management and enhancing productive, resilient, and market-oriented agrifood systems.

These programs are implemented under the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) initiative, operational in seven countries across Africa and Central America, and funded by the U.S. Department of State and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. SoilFER translates soil science into actionable insights, helping farmers, governments, and agribusinesses improve crop selection, optimize fertilizer use, boost productivity, and strengthen agrifood value chains.

A key highlight of the launch was the inauguration of a soil moisture monitoring station (Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor – CRNS) at the University of Zambia, established in collaboration with the FAO/IAEA Joint Centre. This station enhances Zambia’s soil analysis capacity, alongside upgrades to laboratory infrastructure and targeted training for technical staff.

The launch took place during a national technical workshop in Lusaka on 17–18 March, attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, U.S. Embassy and Department of State, Embassy of Japan, and FAO Zambia. The event kicked off a week of activities—including field-based training for farmers and extension agents at ZARI Kabwe Research Station and in Chongwe District—focused on improving practical knowledge of soil health and fertilizer management.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Zambia’s rural livelihoods and economic growth, yet declining soil fertility and land degradation threaten sustainable production. The ZSP provides a national platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration, bringing together government institutions, universities, research organizations, laboratories, farmer groups, private sector actors, and development partners to coordinate soil management actions.

The Global Soil Doctors Programme complements these efforts by equipping farmers and extension agents with hands-on tools to assess soil health, identify threats, and adopt improved soil and fertilizer management practices.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. John A. Mulongoti, Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, highlighted the critical role of healthy soils in Zambia’s agricultural transformation. “Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable agriculture and food security. Strengthening coordination among national institutions is essential for improving productivity and ensuring long-term resilience of our agrifood systems,” he said.

FAO Representative Ms. Suze Percy-Filippini emphasized the importance of international collaboration. “Investments in data, technology, innovation, and capacity building can transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, resilient, and productive,” she said. Julie Kapuvari, Science and Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, noted, “Healthy soils grow healthy crops, and healthy crops nourish healthy people. Soil health is critical not only for productivity, but also for resilience and nutrition.”

The establishment of the ZSP and GSDP aligns Zambia with the Global Soil Partnership framework, promoting sustainable soil management and contributing to regional efforts under the African Soil Partnership. These initiatives represent a major step toward increasing agricultural productivity, expanding agrifood trade, and encouraging private sector engagement across Zambia’s agrifood value chains.