INDIGENOUS SEEDS: A PATH TO AFFORDABLE FOOD AND FARMING IN ZAMBIA

 

By Alain Kabinda

 

For small-scale farmers, the struggle to put food on the table often begins long before harvest. It starts with the cost of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, the uncertainty of rainfall, and the question of whether there will be a reliable market for whatever they manage to grow.

For farmers such as Ana Muhaswa of Mumbwa, access to indigenous seeds is part of that struggle. Traditional varieties may offer opportunities to diversify production, preserve agricultural knowledge and reduce reliance on purchased planting materials, but finding the seeds is not always easy.

Muhaswa says indigenous seeds are not readily available in many agricultural input shops, making it difficult for farmers who want to grow traditional crops.

Her experience reflects a wider concern raised by farmers and agroecology advocates: Zambia’s food security challenge is not simply about producing more food, but also about making production affordable, protecting the environment and ensuring that nutritious food reaches households at prices they can manage.

At a territorial market day and food exhibition held at Government Complex in Lusaka on October 9, 2026, farmers called for greater investment in indigenous seeds and traditional crops. They also urged Government to consider allowing indigenous crop producers to supply the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), arguing that dependable markets could encourage farmers to increase production.

Their message was clear: traditional crops could play a greater role in Zambia’s food system if farmers had access to suitable seeds, practical agricultural advice and buyers for their produce.

For many small-scale farmers, the decision about what to plant is influenced by the money available before the farming season begins.

Seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, transport and labour all compete for limited household resources. When input costs rise, farmers may struggle to cultivate larger areas or diversify into crops they believe could perform well under local conditions.

Agroecology advocates argue that indigenous seeds, combined with suitable farming practices, can offer farmers more options.

Some farmers preserve seeds from previous harvests, exchange them with other growers or obtain them through community seed banks. These approaches can reduce the need to purchase planting materials every season, provided the seeds remain viable, healthy and suitable for the next crop.

However, indigenous seeds are not automatically free or readily available. Farmers need systems that preserve seed quality, maintain diverse varieties and ensure planting materials can be accessed when they are needed.

Muhaswa’s concern about the limited availability of indigenous seeds in agricultural shops highlights the gap between promoting traditional agriculture and making it practical for farmers.

For households that depend on farming for both food and income, reducing some production expenses could leave more resources for education, healthcare and other essential needs.

But lower input costs alone do not guarantee higher profits. Harvest volumes, labour requirements, storage, transport and selling prices also determine whether a farmer makes a worthwhile return.

The argument for indigenous crops extends beyond the farm. It reaches into the kitchen, where households must balance food prices, nutrition and the money available for daily meals.

Traditional crops such as cassava, sorghum, cowpeas and sweet potatoes can diversify the foods available to families.

Cassava and sweet potatoes provide dietary energy, while cowpeas and other legumes contribute protein. The nutritional value of each crop depends on its variety, preparation and the wider diet.

Diversification can also help farmers manage agricultural risks. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, some traditional crops can tolerate dry conditions better than more water-demanding alternatives.

However, indigenous foods will not necessarily be cheaper in every market. Their prices depend on seasonal availability, transport, processing, storage and consumer demand.

The potential benefit is in strengthening local production and supply chains so that diverse, nutritious foods are available in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices.

Speaking at the Lusaka exhibition, Kalomo District Administrative Officer Doreen Mwernda encouraged farmers to embrace indigenous crops, highlighting their potential contribution to food security and resilience against drought.

She urged farmers to increase production, showcase their produce and exchange knowledge in support of national agricultural development.

“As farmers from all over the country, we need to work hand in hand to ensure that we have enough food for the country,” Mwernda said.

She said the promotion of traditional crops could contribute to the Government’s Grow Zambia agenda.

Beyond the crops themselves, agroecology advocates are calling for farming systems that protect soil health, conserve water and make better use of locally available resources.

Agroecology applies ecological principles to agriculture through practices such as composting, mulching, crop rotation, intercropping and maintaining ground cover.

When appropriately applied, these methods can help improve soil structure, conserve moisture and support long-term soil fertility.

However, agroecology is not simply about abandoning all synthetic agricultural inputs. Farmers require practical guidance on which methods and combinations of inputs are suitable for their soils, crops and production goals.

The objective is to build productive farming systems that remain economically viable while protecting the natural resources on which future harvests depend.

Without reliable markets, farmers may be reluctant to increase production because they risk being left with unsold produce or being forced to accept low prices when supplies are abundant.

Zambia Governance Foundation Specialist for Environmental Protection Sarah Haloba said the organisation was working with agroecological farmers and market actors to improve public awareness and strengthen links with mainstream markets.

“We want to be part of the market, not as a niche, but we want to be part of every market system,” Haloba said.

Her remarks reflect the concern that agroecological produce should not be restricted to specialised outlets but should become accessible through ordinary retail and food distribution channels.

Haloba said farmers also needed support in value addition and access to affordable systems for verifying agroecological production.

She noted that some organic certification options were expensive for small-scale farmers, making it difficult for them to demonstrate how their produce was grown.

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) could provide an alternative approach by involving farmers and other stakeholders in locally organised assurance processes.

Such systems would require appropriate standards, credible verification and engagement with relevant institutions to build consumer confidence.

Better market access could also encourage farmers to invest in processing and packaging, helping traditional crops reach more consumers and potentially remain available for longer periods.

Wilson Phiri of the Petauke Chamber of Commerce said farmers needed to organise themselves, coordinate production and honour supply agreements.

He cited an arrangement in which Choppies had agreed to provide shelf space for farmers supplying vegetables, beans and other produce, but the farmers failed to deliver the agreed quantities.

The experience illustrates a challenge facing agricultural diversification: securing a buyer is only one part of the process. Farmers must also plan production, maintain quality and deliver agreed quantities on time.

Farmer organisations, extension officers and buyers could help address these gaps by coordinating planting schedules, sharing market information and supporting consistent production.

For farmer Shonga Jeffrey, expanding indigenous crop production requires more dependable outlets for the harvest.

At the exhibition, Jeffrey called on Government to consider allowing farmers growing indigenous crops to supply the Food Reserve Agency.

The proposal is intended to address the uncertainty farmers face when deciding whether to increase production of crops that may have fewer established buyers.

The FRA already purchases selected agricultural commodities, particularly maize. Extending its purchasing arrangements to indigenous crops would require decisions on eligible varieties, pricing, quality standards, purchasing volumes, storage and collection points.

Nevertheless, the proposal raises an important question for agricultural policy: how can public procurement and private markets encourage farmers to diversify production while providing dependable outlets for their harvests?

A well-designed purchasing arrangement could give farmers greater confidence to plant additional crops, provided demand, storage capacity and distribution systems are properly assessed.

But public purchasing alone would not resolve all market challenges. Farmers would still need access to suitable seeds, agricultural advice, post-harvest facilities and buyers willing to purchase produce that meets agreed standards.

Indigenous seeds represent more than a way to reduce farming costs. They also carry agricultural knowledge developed through generations of cultivation and selection.

Maintaining diverse crop varieties gives farmers options when weather conditions, pests and consumer preferences change.

Seed fairs, community exchanges and local seed banks can help preserve varieties that might otherwise receive less attention as farming systems become increasingly dependent on a narrow range of commercial crops.

Senior Agriculture Officer in Kalomo Oscar Makuyu said the Department of Agriculture encouraged farmers to meet household food needs before selling their surplus.

He also highlighted the importance of promoting traditional foods and preserving indigenous varieties through seed fairs and community engagement.

For such efforts to succeed, seed preservation must be accompanied by proper storage, quality management and reliable access to viable planting materials before the rains begin.

Agricultural extension services also have a role to play in helping farmers identify suitable varieties, improve soil and water management and determine which production practices work best under local conditions.

Investment in storage and processing could reduce post-harvest losses and give farmers more flexibility over when to sell their crops.

Consumer education would be equally important, helping households understand the nutritional value, preparation and availability of traditional foods.

Rather, farmers and advocates are calling for a food system that connects affordable production with reliable markets, environmental sustainability and access to nutritious food.

That requires more than promoting traditional crops at exhibitions. It calls for practical investment in seed systems, extension services, farmer organisations, storage, processing and market infrastructure.

For farmers such as Muhaswa, the immediate concern remains access to the seeds they want to plant. For others, the challenge is finding buyers who can offer dependable markets for the crops they produce.

For households, the ultimate question is whether these efforts can translate into a wider supply of nutritious food at prices they can afford.

Indigenous crops will not automatically make every farm more productive or every meal cheaper. Their contribution will depend on the varieties available, how they are grown, the markets they reach and the costs involved along the supply chain.

But supported by appropriate farming practices, stronger seed access and dependable markets, traditional crops offer an opportunity to preserve agricultural heritage while building a more resilient food economy.

The challenge now is to turn the calls made at the Lusaka exhibition into practical measures that help farmers produce sustainably, earn reliable incomes and ensure that more Zambian households can afford to eat well.