Zambia Defence Forces Shift Focus to National Food Security

In a bid to bolster national food security, the Zambia Defence Forces (ZDF) have been directed by President Hakainde Hichilema to focus their resources on contributing to the national food basket.

This initiative is in line with the President's vision under the Presidential Delivery Unit to achieve 1 million metric tons of wheat, 1 million metric tons of soya beans, and 10 million metric tons of maize production by 2027.

Members of the Zambia Air Force show PDU inspectors their maize crop.

Zambia Air Force (ZAF) has taken the lead in this initiative, diversifying its operations beyond air defence to ground tilling in the agriculture sector. According to ZAF Commander Lt. General Oscar Nyoni, this new direction has provided personnel with a fresh perspective on their role in times of peace.

"It has been a very good opportunity for us," Lt. General Nyoni said. "As you can see, the crop is doing well."

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Lt. General Nyoni led a team, including Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Mr. Davis Sikalenga, to Polygon-2 Farm in Mbala, Northern Province. The team inspected the over 600 hectares of maize crops cultivated by the ZAF.

Mr. Sikalenga, accompanied by Defence Permanent Secretary Norman Chipakupaku and PDU's Efficient Value Chains (EVC) Delivery Manager Jones Mulunga, noted that the President had directed the team to conduct a spot check at the farm. The findings impressed the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU).

"We are excited that the Presidential Priority on the Agriculture intervention is being accelerated," Mr. Mulunga stated.

According to ZAF's acting Vice Chief of Agriculture, Lt. Colonel Vungani Chirwa, the 600-hectare farm is expected to yield 10 tons per hectare of white maize, which will be sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the 2024/2025 farming season.