Zambian food security depends more on farming methods than donor aid source
A study by University of Zambia researchers reveals that in eastern Zambia, local farming practices have a stronger influence on household food security than whether aid comes from Norwegian or Chinese donors. Conservation agriculture leads to better food security outcomes than conventional farming, while food insecurity remains structural and affects women-headed households disproportionately.
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A recent study by researchers at the University of Zambia shows that local farming practices have a greater impact on household food security in eastern Zambia than the origin of donor aid, whether Norwegian or Chinese.
The research compared conservation agriculture, which involves minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotations including legumes, with conventional farming methods like ploughing and monocropping. Conservation agriculture was found to produce better food security outcomes.
Despite significant international aid—US$108 million in 2024—and government investment, food insecurity remains deeply structural in Zambia, disproportionately affecting women-headed households.
The study concludes that sustainable agricultural transitions in Zambia require addressing systemic inequalities and empowering locally adapted, ecologically diverse farming systems rather than focusing solely on donor aid models.