Projects
> ZAMBIA - Chiansi Irrigation

This project intends to replicate the proof of concept pilot project, successfully implemented in Chanyanya in 2008, on a much larger scale. The core objective is to establish a partnership between smallholder and commercial farmers in the project area, providing them with a ccess to year round irrigation with centralised management to create a sustainable commercial farming operation with pro-poor benefits.

The project area is situated in the Kafue district of Zambia, adjacent to the Kafue River and has long been characterised by poverty and underutilisation of available resources such as land, labour and water. The Project represents a unique and practical opportunity to facilitate the exploitation of these abundant resources for the benefit of the local community.

This initiative represents a milestone in the new approach to agricultural development to establish viable farming operations that can be replicated across Zambia and elsewhere in Africa.

Irrigation Pilot Project Documentary Video

Location of Project

Zambia Zambia
Kafue River Region - 25 km south of Lusaka
See Map ›

Sponsoring government ministries

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ministry of Finance and National Planning
USAID

Statement of project objectives

Primary economic benefits

Irrigation infrastructure and infield development of a 2,400 hectare farming operation double cropping with a wheat and soya bean rotation
Provide 650 smallholder families (up to 6,500 individuals) with year-round irrigation services for at least 25 years, enabling them to enhance their incomes through profitable commercial-scale farming;
Provide 650 smallholder households which are members of landholder cooperatives with income from irrigated “market garden” plots;
Introduce smallholders to commercial management techniques enabling them to increase yields, gain access to wholesale markets and obtain better crop prices;
Provide smallholders with access to commercial finance by leasing infield irrigation and farming equipment;
In the long-term act as a catalyst for similar developments elsewhere in Zambia and across Africa

Primary social benefits

Create 250 full time agricultural and infrastructure management jobs;
End dependence on food aid for 900 families directly benefitting from the Project (up to 9,000 individuals);
Stimulate growth in the wider economy which supports 15,000 people;
Provide potable water to the local community of 15,000 via borehole developments;
Extend the local electricity grid to public buildings such as schools, clinics and community centres in the project area;

Approximate scope of project

Cost - $31.3 million
Time – Closing 2010

Project Structure

In exchange for access to their land through long-term leases, the small-scale farming communities and commercial farmers will secure an equity stake in the project company. The project company will own the irrigation and farming assets and lease land from the various smallholder communities and commercial farmers. The farmers will attain full ownership of the company once all investor funding has been repaid.

In order to better access long-term patient capital to finance the high upfront infrastructural assets, the project developers see public private partnerships (PPP’s) as a key policy framework providing the basis for long term economic viability.

Project Relevance

The Project is fully aligned with the key objectives of Zambia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (“PSRP”). Agriculture and in particular irrigated production has been given particular priority by the Government to form the basis of its national development programmes and policies through its PRSP and in particular the 5th National Devel opment Plan (2006-2010). This clearly sets out policies targeted at providing enabling environment and strategies to develop the sector and highlights the underutilisation of water resources and the lack of infrastructure to exploit such resources.

› Download - Irrigation plan map