Government recommits to promoting sustainable agriculture

The Zambian government, through the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), has strongly reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, and rural empowerment. Speaking on recent agricultural initiatives, SCCI Senior Seed Officer Zombe Sikazwe emphasized that safeguarding the integrity of the agricultural sector remains a top priority for national food security. As climate variability continues to pose challenges to traditional farming patterns, ensuring that farmers have access to reliable, high-quality inputs is vital for maintaining stable livelihoods across farming communities. A central focus of the government's renewed push is the aggressive crackdown on counterfeit seeds circulating on the domestic market. Authorities have issued strict warnings to unscrupulous agro-dealers and traders attempting to exploit farmers by supplying substandard or fake products. Operating under the provisions of Cap 236 of the Laws of Zambia, the SCCI, in collaboration with security wings and other line ministries, is scaling up inspections across warehouses, open markets, and agro-dealer outlets. Officials have made it clear that anyone found peddling fraudulent agricultural inputs will face the full wrath of the law. In addition to regulatory enforcement, the government is actively encouraging smallholder farmers to embrace crop diversification and climate-resilient farming practices. With shifting weather patterns impacting conventional crop cycles, agricultural experts advise adopting early-maturing seed varieties and supplementing crop production with localized irrigation systems. These adaptive measures are designed to cushion small-scale producers against environmental shocks, ensuring that national food production remains robust regardless of seasonal rainfall irregularities. Stakeholders across the agricultural value chain have welcomed these regulatory steps, noting that protecting certified seed channels directly transla