Agriculture and food in Zambia

Agriculture in Zambia

The Zambian agriculture sector is composed of crops, livestock and fisheries. There are three broad categories for farmers: small-scale who produce staple foods like corn or rice with occasional marketable surpluses; medium scale which specializes in maize (a type of grain) while also tending to cash cropping activities that bring in some income but do not contribute greatly towards total GDP ; large scale whose production can include anything ranging from vegetables all the way up into export commodities such as coffee beans depending on what they're trying sell off at any given time . Agriculture employs about 75% percent out workforce. With a land area of 75 million hectares, or 752 thousand square kilometers, Zambia is the second largest producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country has an abundant wealth of water but because they have not invested much into irrigation systems for farmers it still remains at only 15% cultivation level with maize being their most common crop followed closely by rice which takes up 58% percent share among horticultural produce grown on 9%. Notably there are other crops including millet , sorghum ; cassava coming out well too depending upon rainfall conditions during particular seasons yet. A small number of white Zimbabwean farmers were welcomed into Zambia after their expulsion by Robert Mugabe, whose numbers had reached roughly 150 to 300 people as of 2004. They farm a variety of crops including tobacco and chili peppers on an estimated 150 farms thanks largely in part to general economic liberalisation under late president Levy Mwanawasa. For the first time in 26 years, Zambia exported more corn than it imported. In December 2019, with unanimous decision from all major parties involved (Zambian government), cannabis legalization for medicinal purposes only has been announced by President Rupiah Banda. Corn is a staple food crop that accounts for the largest proportion of planted area on Zambian farms. The country's high rate urbanization during much post-independence era has increased demand, which in turn declined at slower pace compared to production due to use hybrid varieties and subsidized fertilizers over many years ago - this caused fluctuations within corn's growth . Livestock in Zambia play an integral part of the economy, with cattle being one important animal. Cows and bulls dominate most areas .

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Fishing in Zambia

Not only does the country of Zambia have a rich fishery, but there many lakes and swamps also provide ample opportunities. The Luapula valley is a major supplier of Copperbelt. Lake Tanganyika, famous for its Nile perch and kapenta caught at night using special lamps to direct their movements in deep waters forms the basis on which Lusaka's supply depends upon Kafue flats as well as Lukanga Swamp. In contrast with this importance though comes from fishing upriver near where there are no large bodies or navigable rivers but rather flat lands that can easily accommodate fish farms due again largely because they rely heavily not only on rainwater runoff but also ground water sources all throughout Zambia's.