For the Zambia country focus process a large group of APF members and a handful of non-members have expressed their interest in cooperation and developing joint ideas around hot issues.
Various value chains were identified during the meetings that took place at Cordaid on 17 February and on 12 March: there is an interest in dairy, (organic) cotton, honey and rice. Solidaridad is in the lead for cotton, Cordaid for honey and SNV for rice. PTC+ expressed a keen interest to assist in learning around dairy, but talks with Heifer Zambia will be required to understand the potential for the dairy focus. Important cross cutting issues are rural finance (Rabobank Development, Woord en Daad) as well as learning by and further strengthening of farmer organizations.
A mission to Zambia by the lead Cordaid and Agri-ProFocus support office will take place from 20 to 30 April 2009. Meetings are scheduled with SNV, HIVOS, the Dutch Embassy (‘supply side’) and with producer organizations, Zanaco and others to understand the demand side in Zambia.