13/05/2026
HON. REUBEN MTOLO BIDS FAREWELL TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, THANKS PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA FOR THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ZAMBIA AS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE.
It was all smiles and reflection this morning as Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Reuben Phiri Mtolo, MP, officially bid farewell to management and staff at the Ministry of Agriculture after 5 years of dedicated service under the New Dawn Administration.
The emotional farewell gathering, attended by Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Heads of Institutions and Agencies, and members of staff, celebrated a period of major transformation and remarkable achievements recorded in Zambia’s agriculture sector under Hon. Mtolo’s leadership.
Addressing staff at the Ministry headquarters in Lusaka, Hon. Mtolo expressed immense pride in the milestones achieved collectively during his tenure, describing the Ministry as a family that remained united and committed to delivering on Government’s vision for a food-secure and prosperous Zambia.
The Minister acknowledged that his tenure coincided with one of the most devastating droughts in Zambia’s history, which threatened national food security and livelihoods across the country. However, he praised the resilience, dedication, and teamwork demonstrated by Ministry staff and stakeholders in ensuring that the country overcame the crisis.
Hon. Mtolo stated that despite the severe drought experienced during the 2023/2024 farming season, the Ministry, under the guidance of Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, worked tirelessly to ensure that no Zambian died of hunger.
He noted that through coordinated interventions, strategic planning, and emergency response measures, Government managed to stabilize food supplies, support vulnerable households, and protect the country’s strategic grain reserves during one of the most difficult periods for the agriculture sector.
The Minister further highlighted Zambia’s strong recovery in maize production, with the country recording approximately 3.9 million metric tonnes during the 2024/2025 farming season following the drought period.
He also expressed pride in the successful transition of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to a 100 percent electronic voucher system, describing the reform as a historic milestone that improved transparency, efficiency, accountability, and farmer access to inputs.
Hon. Mtolo further noted that under the New Dawn Administration, Zambia strengthened its position as a regional agricultural leader through increased seed production, expanded mechanisation services, enhanced irrigation development, and improved access to international markets.
He cited the bilateral export protocol secured with the People’s Republic of China for the export of macadamia nuts as one of the major achievements that opened international market opportunities for Zambian farmers.
The Minister also commended Ministry staff for embracing digital transformation through innovations such as the Agribusiness Market Information System, the Zambia Electronic Single Window, and the E-Voucher platform, all aimed at improving service delivery and agricultural productivity.
He further reaffirmed confidence in Zambia’s agricultural future and the realization of President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans, and 1 million metric tonnes of wheat annually by 2031.
Hon. Mtolo encouraged Ministry staff to remain united, innovative, and committed to serving the people of Zambia with integrity and dedication.
