(Ecofin Agency) - Last June 19, World Bank approved $14.6 million in financing for Zambian smallholder farmers affected by climate change to improve their market access.

This support aligns with Phase II of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) aiming at integrating financial and technical services such as savings, index insurance and microcredit into the existing approaches on climate resilience, renewable natural resource management and conservation agriculture. The project is set to reach nearly 167,000 beneficiaries in both Kazungula (Southern Province) and in the Zambezi floodplain (Western Province). 

“At the national level, the project seeks to increase the dissemination and accessibility of information on weather, markets, commodity prices, climate-smart practices, outbreaks of diseases/pests, and other important information to help producers across Zambia in making critical management decisions about their livelihoods and enterprises,” said Iretomiwa Olatunji, head of PPCR’s task team.

Let’s recall that the scheme focuses on adaptation to climate change. It is managed by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).  In Zambia, agriculture accounts for 10% of national export earnings.

Espoir Olodo