Zambia Launches Digital Skills Training for Agricultural Officers to Boost Sector Efficiency
The launch of the digital training programme represents a major milestone in Zambia’s agricultural modernization agenda, promoting efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity across the sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a nationwide Digital Skills Training Programme for Agricultural Officers under the ZICTA ICT Device Support to the Ministry of Agriculture Project, aimed at transforming service delivery and improving efficiency in the agricultural sector.
The programme, led by the Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo, and supported by the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), is designed to equip agricultural extension officers with the digital tools and knowledge required to modernize farming services. Officers will be trained to collect real-time data, register farmers, monitor pests and diseases, and use technology to support timely decision-making and communication with farming communities.
The initiative builds on earlier efforts by ZICTA to bridge the digital gap within the sector. In 2024, the authority distributed 550 tablets to agricultural extension officers in 20 districts, addressing challenges identified in a 2022 study, which found limited ICT access, weak connectivity, and low digital literacy levels among field officers.
The new training aims to consolidate these gains by ensuring that all officers can effectively use digital platforms to enhance their work and contribute to greater productivity in the sector. It supports the government’s broader objective of achieving national production targets of 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 1 million tonnes of wheat, and 1 million tonnes of soybeans annually by 2031.
In addition to the training programme, the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing several digital innovations that are reshaping Zambia’s farming landscape. These include the Agribusiness Market Information System, which provides farmers with real-time market and price data; the electronic Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), improving transparency and efficiency in input distribution; and the Zambia Electronic Single Window, which streamlines import and export permit applications for farmers and agribusinesses.
The launch of the digital training programme represents a major milestone in Zambia’s agricultural modernization agenda, promoting efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity across the sector. The event also highlighted collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Science and Technology, underscoring the government’s commitment to using technology as a driver of sustainable agricultural growth and innovation.
