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Zambia Agribusiness Conference Calls Stakeholders to Action

Zambia Agribusiness Conference Calls Stakeholders to Action

Thursday August 29, 2013, Zambia will host the first Southern African Agriculture Development Partnership Platform (SADDPP) conference. Government and agribusiness officials will discuss potential partnerships that will strengthen agricultural practices — and the industry as a whole, Zambia Daily Mail reported.

The event was curated by The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Business Foundation and the Agribusiness Forum (ABF). According to Zambia Daily Mail, the conference will largely focus on the private sector’s much needed contribution to agribusiness development.

“This conference is going to showcase the promising achievement and results achieved through collaborative efforts between the private sector and government partnerships in the region. Upon such success, we will chart a way forward for a Zambia-specific partnership plan to implement in the agriculture sector,” Lynette Chen, NEPAD Business Foundation chief executive officer said in the report.

Brenda Nang’amba, ABF acting executive secretary said the gathering will hopefully force stakeholders to act on commitments that will better Zambia’s agriculture sector, Zambia Daily Mail reported.

“We need to formulate sustainable solutions that will unleash Zambia’s potential to become the region’s food basket. We are, therefore, excited to be working with the NEPAD Business Foundation which ensures there is regional private sector and Government support in order for projects [that have been] developed to have meaningful national and regional impact,” Nang’amba said.

Wealth creation and food security are amongst the most important agriculture sector improvements, Nang’amba added.

The report called the conference a “timely intervention” because of the private sector’s experienced hurdles rooted in unstable policy and infrastructure.