Untapped Potential in the Agro Processing IndustryPatience HamayobeAgriculture and agro processing are important to Zambia’s economy. Agriculture and agro processing contributed about 7.3% and 3.2% to gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2021, respectively. Agriculture employs 67% of the labour force and supplies raw materials to agro-processing industries. The agro-processing industry is an industry that transforms and enhances the quality of, and the demand for, products originating from agriculture. In simple terms agro processing adds value to agricultural produce. This sector has the potential to provide employment for the rural population in off-farm activities such as handling, packaging, processing, transporting, marketing of food and agricultural products. The sector is also an important contributor to Zambia’s exports. In 2020, the agro-processing industry accounted for 3.5 % of total manufacturing exports.The development potential of the agro processing industry in Zambia is largely associated with the relative abundance of agricultural raw materials and the low-cost […]
Untapped Potential in the Agro Processing Industry
