Zambian farmers planting drought-resistant seeds under a vibrant sunlit sky.

Zambia's Climate-Smart Farming Revolution: Growing Resilience, One Seed at a Time

Samir D’Costa in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is transforming Zambia's farming landscape, empowering smallholder farmers to thrive in the face of climate change."

Zambia's agricultural heartland is facing a growing challenge: climate change. Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods are threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who depend on agriculture for their survival. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Zambia is embracing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a powerful tool to build resilience and ensure food security.

CSA is more than just a set of farming techniques; it's a holistic approach that integrates climate science, sustainable practices, and innovative technologies to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase productivity. In Zambia, this transformation is being driven by a collaborative effort between government agencies, research institutions, private sector companies, and, most importantly, the farmers themselves.

This article delves into the heart of Zambia's climate-smart revolution, exploring the innovative strategies, successful partnerships, and inspiring stories of resilience that are shaping a more sustainable and food-secure future for the nation.

Seeds of Change: Innovations in Action

Zambian farmers planting drought-resistant seeds under a vibrant sunlit sky.

At the core of Zambia's CSA strategy lies the adoption of drought-resistant maize varieties. These specially bred seeds are able to withstand prolonged periods of water scarcity, ensuring that farmers can still harvest a decent yield even in challenging conditions. The initiative involves:

Linking farmers to agro-dealers to stress-tolerant seed suppliers. This ensures that farmers have access to the seeds they need, when they need them.

Training public and private partners, including agro-dealers, on stress-tolerant seed knowledge. This equips them with the expertise to advise farmers on the best seed choices for their specific needs.
Conducting farmer awareness campaigns on CSA-related inputs, technologies, and information. These campaigns educate farmers on the benefits of stress-tolerant seeds and other CSA practices.
Linking primary seed producers to the smallholder farmer market through last-mile agro-dealer outlets and train agro-dealers in CSA information so that they become a locally embedded extension support system to farmers.

The project also promotes the development of a stress-tolerant seed market by deliberately establishing partnerships with primary seed suppliers to provide information on types of seed varieties available, their management requirements, level of yields, and associated risks that have to be proactively managed.

A Promising Future, Rooted in Resilience

Zambia's journey towards climate-smart agriculture is an ongoing process, but the progress made so far is undeniable. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need, Zambia is building a more resilient and food-secure future for all its citizens. As climate change continues to pose a threat to agricultural systems around the world, Zambia's experience offers valuable lessons and inspiration for other nations seeking to adapt and thrive in a changing world.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/978-3-319-71025-9_109-1, Alternate LINK

Title: Scaling Up Climate-Smart Agricultural (Csa) Solutions For Smallholder Cereals And Livestock Farmers In Zambia

Journal: Handbook of Climate Change Resilience

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Authors: Idowu Kolawole Odubote, Oluyede Clifford Ajayi

Published: 2018-10-05

Everything You Need To Know

What is climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Zambia, and who are the key players involved?

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Zambia is an integrated approach encompassing climate science, sustainable practices, and innovative technologies. It aims to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and boost productivity. This initiative involves collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, private sector companies, and farmers.

How do drought-resistant maize varieties contribute to climate-smart agriculture in Zambia?

The adoption of drought-resistant maize varieties is central to Zambia's climate-smart agriculture strategy. These seeds are bred to withstand prolonged water scarcity, ensuring farmers can still achieve yields even in harsh conditions. The initiative also links farmers to agro-dealers for stress-tolerant seeds, trains partners on seed knowledge, and conducts farmer awareness campaigns. Furthermore it ensures primary seed producers are connected to the smallholder farmer market.

How does Zambia ensure farmers have access to drought-resistant seeds and knowledge about climate-smart agriculture practices?

The initiative links farmers to agro-dealers who supply stress-tolerant seeds. It also involves training public and private partners, including agro-dealers, to enhance their knowledge of stress-tolerant seeds. Additionally, farmer awareness campaigns are conducted to educate them about climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-related inputs, technologies, and information. Linking primary seed producers to the smallholder farmer market through agro-dealer outlets and training them in CSA ensures they become locally embedded extension support.

Does Zambia utilize weather index insurance as part of its climate-smart agriculture strategy, and if not, are there alternative risk management approaches?

Weather index insurance is not specifically mentioned, however the initiatives being undertaken include providing stress-tolerant seeds that assist farmers to continue harvesting yields in challenging conditions. Further the project promotes development of a stress-tolerant seed market by establishing partnerships with primary seed suppliers to provide information on seed varieties, their management requirements, yield levels and associated risks.

What broader implications does Zambia's climate-smart agriculture (CSA) experience have for other countries facing similar climate challenges?

Zambia's experience with climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers valuable lessons and inspiration for other nations facing similar challenges. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and empowering farmers with knowledge and resources, Zambia is building a more resilient and food-secure future. The strategies employed, such as promoting drought-resistant crops and providing farmers with access to necessary resources and training, can serve as a model for other countries seeking to adapt to climate change and ensure food security.