The Impact of the Farmer Input Support Program on Crop Diversification

Agriculture is one of Zambias economic drivers and is a mainstay of the livelihood of a large proportion of the countrys population. Agricultural production is mainly dependent on seasonal rain-fed cultivation with maize as the principal staple food crop. Zambia is gradually striving to diversify its crop sector in favour of high value crops. If technically approached, crop diversification can be used as a tool to augment farm income, generate employment, alleviate poverty and conserve precious soil and water resources. In Zambia, diversification in cropping patterns is a very recent phenomenon. Zambia is basically a maize producing state and has achieved a very high level of productivity over the years. Crop diversification is expected to be able to contribute towards a higher nutrition level, poverty alleviation, employment generation, and sustainable natural resources management.