The Government of Zambia, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with support from the United States, has officially launched the Zambia Soil Partnership (ZSP) and the Global Soil Doctors Programme (GSDP) to strengthen sustainable soil management and build more productive, resilient, and market-oriented agrifood systems. These initiatives are being implemented under the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) programme, which operates in seven countries across Africa and Central America and is funded by the United States Department of State and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme aims to turn soil science and data into practical action that can help farmers, governments, and agribusinesses improve productivity, optimize fertilizer use, make better crop choices, and strengthen agrifood value chains.
The launch also marked the inauguration of a new soil moisture monitoring station at the University of Zambia, using a Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor installed and calibrated by FAO in collaboration with the FAO/IAEA Joint Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. This forms part of wider efforts to improve Zambia’s soil analysis capacity through upgraded laboratory equipment, stronger infrastructure, and targeted training for national technical staff. Together, these investments are intended to improve the country’s ability to monitor soil conditions and support evidence-based agricultural decision-making.
The announcement took place during a national technical workshop held in Lusaka on 17–18 March, officially opened by Zambia’s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, along with representatives from the United States Embassy and Department of State, the Embassy of Japan, and FAO. The workshop marked the beginning of a broader series of activities running from 17 to 24 March, including field-based training sessions at the ZARI Kabwe Research Station in Central Province and in Chongwe District, Lusaka Province. During this period, extension agents and farmers are participating in practical, hands-on training to improve their understanding of soil health and fertilizer management.
In Zambia, agriculture remains a vital pillar of rural livelihoods and economic growth, but soil degradation and declining soil fertility continue to pose serious threats to sustainable production. These challenges make improved soil health a critical priority for raising crop yields, strengthening local markets, improving rural incomes, and ensuring long-term agricultural stability. The newly launched initiatives are designed to address these constraints by creating stronger coordination mechanisms and practical tools for better soil stewardship.
The Zambia Soil Partnership will function as a national multi-stakeholder platform bringing together government institutions, research organisations, universities, soil laboratories, farmer groups, private sector actors, and development partners. During the Lusaka workshop, stakeholders agreed on priorities and developed a roadmap for coordinated soil management actions under the partnership. This collaborative structure is expected to improve alignment across institutions and promote more strategic and consistent approaches to sustainable soil management nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Global Soil Doctors Programme is designed as a farmer-to-farmer training initiative that equips both farmers and extension workers with practical tools to assess soil health, identify soil-related threats, and improve soil and fertilizer management practices. By building local knowledge and peer learning, the programme aims to strengthen grassroots capacity and make sustainable soil practices more accessible and widely adopted in farming communities.
Speaking on behalf of Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri, Permanent Secretary John A. Mulongoti emphasized that healthy soils are essential to Zambia’s agricultural transformation agenda, describing them as the foundation of sustainable agriculture and food security. He noted that stronger soil management and better coordination among national institutions are critical for improving productivity and ensuring the long-term resilience of Zambia’s agrifood systems.
FAO Representative in Zambia Suze Percy-Filippini highlighted the importance of international partnerships in advancing sustainable soil management, saying the SoilFER programme demonstrates how investments in data, innovation, technology, technical capacity, and collaboration can transform agrifood systems to become more efficient, resilient, sustainable, and productive. Julie Kapuvari, Science and Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, also stressed the broader significance of soil health, noting that healthy soils produce healthy crops, which in turn support better nutrition, resilience, and food system outcomes for families and communities.
The creation of the Zambia Soil Partnership and the Global Soil Doctors Programme also aligns with the wider framework of the Global Soil Partnership, a global FAO-led initiative that promotes sustainable soil management and soil resource protection, while also contributing to regional collaboration through the African Soil Partnership. Overall, the launch of these initiatives marks an important step for Zambia in improving agricultural productivity, strengthening agrifood trade, and encouraging greater private sector participation across agrifood value chains.
