Agricultural Contribution to the Achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals

Bobi K. Nebwe

 One of the parameters within which all development efforts have to conform to are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). What exactly are the MDGS and where did they originate from?

The MDGs originate from the Millennium Declaration signed by 147 Heads of State and 44 Representatives, who attended the United Nations (UN) Summit in September, 2000. The Declaration outlines the intent of the International Community to take steps to combat the deprivations to which a big part of the world is still exposed.

The MDGs are a set of eight mutually reinforcing development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration and subsequently linked to other internationally agreed goals and targets. The MDGs were adopted to help implement the shared values of the International Community in the 21^st Century. The eight MDGs are:

 

·         Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger;

·         Achievement of universal primary education;

·         Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women;

·         Reduction of child mortality;

·         Improvement of maternal health;

·         Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;

·         Ensuring environmental sustainability; and

·         Developing global partnerships for development.

The MDGs as highlighted above are fully applicable to Zambia and there is need for Government and other development agencies to make reference to them when formulating development policies and programmes.

The agricultural sector could play a key role in contributing to the attainment of the MDGs, as is highlighted below:

Eradication of poverty and extreme hunger: an increase in the production of food will contribute to the reduction of hunger in Zambia. In addition, the diversification of cropping patterns to incorporate high value crops will enable farmers earn a reasonable income and reduce poverty.

Achievement of universal primary education: the development and adoption of appropriate farming technology that reduces labour input will result in a reduction in the demand for on-farm family labour, thereby releasing children to attend school. In addition, an increase in the earning capacity of farmers resulting from diversification to the cultivation of high value crops such as cotton, tobacco and fresh vegetables will enable farmers afford to send their children to school. Special targets should be set with learning institutions for the enrolment of the girl-child.

Promotion of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women: The agricultural sector is one of the key avenues through which gender equality and empowerment of women can be promoted. For example, this can be achieved through input support programmes and other credit programmes specially target towards women and other vulnerable households. Outgrower promoters and agro-processing companies could also be encouraged to ensure that women are offered equal employment opportunities. The Ministry of Lands could be a key partner through targeted promotion of land ownership among womenfolk and other vulnerable households. The education of the girl child will also facilitate the inclusion of women in key decision-making processes.

Reduction of child mortality: The occurrence of child mortality is currently unacceptably high. Improved access to nutritious food could indirectly contribute to the reduction of child mortality. The agricultural extension system, once adequately funded and functioning, could be utilized to promote immunization and disease control programmes that could indirectly contribute to the reduction of child mortality.

Improvement of maternal health: Improved access to nutritious food will have a bearing on maternal health in Zambia. An improvement in incomes resulting from diversification to the cultivation of high value crops and promotion of outgrower schemes will also contribute to the general improvement of maternal health in the country.

Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases: Malaria and HIV/AIDS are currently the two highest killing diseases in Zambia. The agricultural sector is one of the key avenues through which awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS can be promoted, both through the agricultural extension system, corporate agribusiness firms and NGOs. This could be done in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Ensuring environmental sustainability: One of the Specific Objectives for the agricultural sector, as stated in the NAP, is to ensure that the existing agricultural resource base is maintained and improved upon. This calls for the application of agricultural production systems that are sustainable in the long-term. The environmental damage caused by the application of inappropriate agricultural production systems that involve the application of huge amounts of inorganic fertilizer, the excessive use of agro-chemicals, use of slash and burn systems, burning of crop residues and ploughing along the slopes is well documented.

It is essential that all stakeholders in the agricultural sector play their role in reversing this trend. The promotion of Conservation Farming and agro-forestry farming technology are part of the initiatives being promoted to ensure long-term environmental sustainability. The rational application of inorganic fertilizer and agro-chemicals in a complementary manner with CF and agro-forestry technologies will also contribute to the attainment of long-term environmental sustainability. The Government agricultural extension system, in close collaboration with developmental NGOs and other development institutions, also have a key role to play in sensitizing farmers on the harmful effects of slash and burn farming techniques and ploughing across the slope. Every effort must also be made to further promote CF and Agro-forestry farming techniques.

Developing global partnerships for development: The development of agricultural sector can be further enhanced through Zambia’s membership of International and Regional Bodies. These bodies include the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the Afro-Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group can greatly contribute to the development of Zambia’s agricultural sector, and the country’s economy in general. These partnerships provide an avenue through which the special needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can be addressed. Issues to be addressed include Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade and access to markets, the massive third world debt, and provision of export quotas to LDCs. Other possibilities include the discussion of enhanced debt relief for LDCs. 

The agricultural sector, as the centre for economic growth, has a key role to play in the attainment of the MDGs in Zambia, either directly or indirectly. It is thus essential that all key stakeholders and development partners play their respective roles, to ensure that the agricultural sector fulfils it potential in ensuring the development of Zambia’s economy.