By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –

THE SNV Netherlands Development Organisation supported more than 40,000 small-scale farmers in Zambia’s agriculture sector in 2014.
According to SNV annual report, the organisation provided business linkages and training to 41,659 small-scale farmers last year.
SNV focuses on the development of the agriculture sector to foster economic development and poverty reduction through a value-chain development approach.
Its main objectives in agriculture are to increase income and employment for small scale farmers, improve food security for all and strengthen the environmental sustainability of agricultural productivity to meet the challenges of a changing climate.
The company aims to improve the positioning of small-scale farmers and processors who include women and youths in the value chain.
“In 2014, SNV reached 41,659 small-scale farmers by improving access to inputs and services, increasing production and access to markets, providing business linkages and conducting business trainings in the agriculture sector,” the report states.
The report states that through projects such as the Dairy Business Services Development, part of its agriculture portfolio in 2014, was to focus on supply and demand to ensure that improvements were sustainable on a market basis.
The report says awareness of products and services such as nutrient-rich feed, veterinary drugs, and artificial insemination and business planning training sessions help farmers increase productivity and income by generating a greater market for the services provided by the cooperatives.
This improvement of the dairy value chain is self-sustaining and lays the foundation for future advancement.
SNV senior economic development advisor – agriculture sector – Zambia Thomas Were said in an interview recently that the organisation supports small-scale farmers and processors to increase their production and productivity, facilitate their access to local and international markets.
“We also support partners to dialogue with the Government on agricultural policies. We are further committed to gender and youth inclusion in all our projects and ensure that women in the value chain that we are working are also able to benefit from the operations of the industry,” he said.