How the Emergency Food Production Facility is reducing food and fertiliser import dependence

A crisis that reshaped Zambia’s agriculture

When the Russia–Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022, global fertiliser markets were thrown into turmoil. Prices surged, supplies tightened and African farmers—already operating on thin margins—were pushed to the brink. In Zambia, the impact was immediate and severe.

At the time, the country imported more than $110 million worth of fertiliser annually from Russia and Ukraine alone. In 2022, Zambia needed to import about 632,529 metric tonnes of fertiliser during the planting season, while domestic production capacity fell far short of demand.

For decades, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) had remained the backbone of local fertiliser supply, but outdated infrastructure limited output to just 70,000 metric tonnes a year—barely enough to make a dent in national needs.

What appeared to be a crisis soon became a turning point.

A strategic intervention

In July 2022, the African Development Bank Group approved the Zambia Emergency Food Production Facility (ZEFPF), backed by $14.73 million in financing through the African Development Fund. The facility was designed not only to provide short-term relief, but to fundamentally transform Zambia’s agricultural and fertiliser ecosystem.

At the centre of this effort was a $1.25 million grant to NCZ for raw materials, enabling the commissioning of its newly built $5.5 million fertiliser blending and granulation plant.

“The support from the African Development Fund came at exactly the right time,” said Chanda M. Mongo. “It made possible the commissioning of our state-of-the-art plant. This is a transformational investment for our nation.”

A six-fold leap in capacity

The impact has been dramatic. Before the intervention, NCZ’s capacity stood at 70,000 metric tonnes per year. By 2025, with the new plant fully operational, capacity had risen to 432,880 metric tonnes—a six-fold increase.

Combined with two newly commissioned private-sector fertiliser plants, Zambia is now on track to achieve fertiliser self-sufficiency by 2026. Fertiliser prices are projected to fall by as much as 40%, easing pressure on farmers and improving affordability.

Beyond production: building an ecosystem

The ZEFPF extended far beyond factory gates. The programme adopted an ecosystem approach, strengthening research, extension services and access to finance.

State-of-the-art soil-testing equipment was supplied to the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI). In parallel, 300 extension officers received motorbikes and tablets to improve outreach, while training—delivered in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture—enhanced skills in precision and climate-smart agriculture.

“The new equipment and training have significantly reduced turnaround times,” said Brian Gondwe, head of ZARI’s soil chemistry laboratory. “We now clearly understand the nutrient deficiencies in different soils.”

A pilot Sustainable Agriculture Finance Facility, initially capitalised at $5.6 million, was later scaled up by the Zambian government to $30 million. More than 18,000 smallholder farmers have accessed loans, while 1,700 agro-dealers have been engaged—supporting over 5,000 jobs across the value chain.

Grace’s story: transformation at farm level

For farmers like Grace Nyirongo Phiri, the impact has been life-changing. With ADF-backed financing, she installed drip irrigation, a borehole and solar-powered pumps—raising yields by 35%.

“You minimise water use and achieve uniform irrigation,” she said. “The crops grow better, and the results speak for themselves.”

Grace is one of more than 25,000 direct beneficiaries whose productivity and incomes have improved under the programme.

From importer to exporter

The ripple effects are now visible across Zambia’s economy. Maize production has climbed to about 3.7 million metric tonnes, exceeding national consumption of roughly 2.5 million tonnes. The resulting surplus of 1.2 million tonnes positions Zambia as a regional food exporter.

“Our past fertiliser capacity was 70,000 metric tonnes per year,” Mongo said. “Today, we produce 432,880 tonnes annually. That means greater reach, greater impact and greater hope for our farmers.”

A model for Africa

Zambia’s experience demonstrates how strategic development finance can catalyse structural transformation—moving a country from fertiliser dependence to self-sufficiency, and from food insecurity to surplus.

Through advanced soil analysis, customised fertiliser blends and stronger farmer support systems, yields are rising, incomes are improving and resilience is strengthening.

As Africa seeks sustainable solutions to food and input security, Zambia’s Emergency Food Production Facility stands as a compelling blueprint for what targeted investment, institutional reform and farmer-centred innovation can achieve.