GOVERNMENT SETS LUAPULA ON PATH TO RICE EXPORTS AS ZARI RICE CENTRE NEARS COMMISSIONING

 

Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Kangwa says the near-completion of the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) Rice Training and Processing Facility in Mabumba, Mansa District, signals a major breakthrough in agricultural diversification and economic growth for the province.

 

Mrs. Kangwa said this when she toured the facility Wednesday morning, to assess progress, describing the project as a transformative investment that will reposition Luapula as a centre of excellence in commercial rice production and processing.

 

She said Luapula’s vast wetlands give the province a comparative advantage in rice farming, adding that the facility will shift farmers from traditional production to commercial, high-yield rice farming supported by modern infrastructure, training and value addition.

 

The Permanent Secretary noted that the project will create jobs, boost household incomes and enhance food security, while enabling Zambia to produce rice that can compete favourably on the international market.

 

Meanwhile, ZARI Mansa Programmes Manager Gerald Serenje said the centre will significantly increase rice productivity, with yields expected to rise from the current 1.5–2 tonnes per hectare to about 3–4 tonnes per hectare once farmers are trained in improved production methods.

 

Mr. Serenje disclosed that the project, funded by the Government of Japan at a cost of US$10 million, with counterpart funding from the Zambian Government, will train about 950 farmers annually in rice production, seed breeding and processing to international standards.

 

And Konoike Construction Site Engineer Chitani Sakala said the project comprises both building and civil facilities, including lecture rooms, laboratories, a rice processing plant and 6.5 hectares of rice paddy fields for hands-on training and experimentation.

 

Mr. Sakala said construction works are scheduled for completion by 31st December 2025, adding that the facility will directly benefit farmers through improved rice varieties, access to technical expertise and expanded market opportunities.

 

The ZARI rice project is expected to be officially commissioned next year and is projected to play a key role in transforming Luapula’s economy while strengthening Zambia’s agricultural contribution to national development.

 

By Evans Sinjela