Zambian President commends IITA’s youth-in-ag initiative

2 April 2021

Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) recently facilitated an exhibition program with the theme: “Crop diversification and alternative food”. A team of young people under the ENABLE-TAAT compact of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation participated in the event to showcase the modern cassava value chain technologies. Zambian Head of State, His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was present to witness a variety of modern technologies for agricultural advancement in the country.

The ENABLE-TAAT compact, implemented by IITA’s Youth-in-Agribusiness office, showcased agricultural commodities and products such as High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) with all its nutrient-fortified snacks and foods. Some of these are supplied to chain stores like Shoprite, Pick ‘n’ Pay, and various food outlets in different parts of the country. They also showcased their cassava chips that could be supplied to food and beverage companies like Zhonghai International Ltd, Zambia Breweries, and other processors that use cassava chips as a raw material to manufacture various products like ethanol, glue, and beer.

At the youth’s exhibition stand, President Lungu applauded IITA for its youth-in-agribusiness initiative, which engages young people in agriculture and channels a career path for many of them to be self-employed or employers of others. He was impressed to see graduate youth producing and showcasing agricultural commodities and contributing their quota to ensure the nation’s agricultural sector thrives. President Lungu commended ENABLE-TAAT for its collaboration with various established youth groups in Zambia. According to him, these partnerships will extend the technologies and impact beyond the walls of IITA.

At the end of the exhibition, the youth presented a hamper of assorted cassava-based products to His Excellency. The President was especially delighted in the cassava bread, which he described as a good initiative. President Lungu’s interest in the cassava bread stimulated some attendees’ interest.

Their testimonies showed a mindset change and a desire to be included in agribusiness incubation initiatives and the establishment of agribusiness clusters, which are core objectives of ENABLE-TAAT.