Zambia Advances Agricultural Data Collection under the 50x2030 Initiative

Zambia has taken significant strides in strengthening its agricultural data systems under the 50x2030 Initiative to Close the Agricultural Data Gap. A recent technical assistance mission conducted in Lusaka emphasized capacity-building and collaboration with national institutions to enhance the country’s agricultural data collection and analysis.

Key achievements from the mission include the development of a detailed activity plan for the technical assistance to be provided in the frame of the Initiative's Data Production component and a successful instructive session for the trainers of the Integrated Agricultural Survey (IAS) 2024. These trainers, recruited from ZamStats, the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MFL), will share their knowledge with enumerators. This activity ensures that internationally recognized agricultural statistical concepts are adapted to Zambia's unique context, fostering robust and reliable data systems.

The IAS 2024, a cornerstone of the 50x2030 Initiative, will gather essential data on land use, livestock production, crop utilization and labor dynamics to inform evidence-based agricultural policies. Collaborative discussions with ZamStats and the Ministry of Agriculture during the mission also focused on the Crop Forecast Survey 2025 and other forthcoming survey modules addressing income, labor, production methods and environmental impacts.

Representatives from the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment highlighted the importance of incorporating forestry data into the statistical framework, while the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock emphasized the need for specialized surveys on aquaculture and fisheries.

The 50x2030 initiative, a multiagency partnership between the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has partnered with Zambia’s national agencies to build toward a sustainable agricultural data ecosystem. The technical assistance provided by the 50x2030 Data Production component, led by FAO, aligns with Zambia’s Agricultural Transformation and Sustainable Productivity (CATSP) goals, ensuring data-driven decisions for the country’s agricultural development.