Oilseed
In the oilseed value chain, Zambia collaborated with local private sector companies to facilitate purchase of jatropha seed and provision of extension services for 1,000 Jatropha growers. A MoU for purchase of 70 tons of jatropha seed was signed with D1 Oils and SNV further facilitated the signing of 7,500 jatropha out–grower contracts with Marli investments.

Beekeeping
SNV brokered a €75,000 soft loan for a small honey processing company, from Cordaid, for the purchase of 350 tons of honey from 1,700 bee keepers. The Western Portfolio assisted Lyunda Enterprises to establish a bee products factory in the province thereby creating 30 new jobs and providing market access for 2,000 small scale producers. The North Western portfolio improved the incomes of 3,000 producers of the North Western Bee Keepers Association by 30%. The National Portfolio team continues to build the capacity of the Zambian Honey Council to provide improved services to members through improved quality standards, industry coordination and competitiveness. 

Rice
Rice is one of the most rapidly growing food sources in Africa and has a potential to find markets in several countries of the region. Zambia is therefore exploring the grain value chain with a focus on rice as innovative space with a potential for scaling up to other countries in ESA in 2008. In 2007 the business environment has improved for more than 2,000 rice producers through improved extension services and market linkages brokered by SNV. SNV Zambia’s Northern Portfolio facilitated extension service provision to initially 800 rice farmers through partnering with Misanfu Research Station. Three warehouse facilities are being accessed for bulking of rice and market linkages are being facilitated. During the 2007-2008 growing season 2,000 rice producers were reached.  In the Chambeshi area, covering three districts, 2,000 producers, of which 30% are women, were organized into a rice growers co-operative. In addition, 800 of the farmers are participating in a seed rice outgrower scheme with the local private sector actor “Indigenous Seed Company”.  The Western Portfolio is building the capacity of local rice producer’s associations to increase production and establish milling and packaging enterprises to add value for onward marketing. Production is set to increase by 50% and will improve incomes of 15,000 households.