The Chairperson,
Distinguished governors,
Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of my delegation, let me join others that have spoken before me in congratulating Dr. Nwanze on his re-election as IFAD president. Zambia wishes you well, Mr President as you begin your second term at IFAD.

Distinguished Governors, Ladies and gentlemen, let me take this opportunity to reaffirm Zambia’s commitment to the 36th IFAD Governing Council’s theme for 2013 “The power of partnerships: forging alliances for sustainable smallholder agriculture”.

Zambia recognizes that achieving the interrelated goals of poverty reduction, national food security, and broad-based income growth requires major productivity growth in agriculture. This in turn requires Public-Private Partnerships (ppps) that are essential for sustained agricultural growth and rural development.

Partnerships for agricultural development are more likely to ensure well-targeted investments from both the public and private sectors, as well as from individual farmers. These partnerships will help widen access to technology and link farmers to markets while encouraging improved production and productivity.

Zambia is already strongly embracing partnerships in its development agenda for agriculture. For instance, the process for developing the national agricultural investment plan under the CAADP framework, has brought together all major partners in the sector, including, government, development  partners like IFAD, the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOS) as well as the farmers themselves in agreeing on the priority areas for agricultural development in Zambia. 

It is clear that combined efforts by all stakeholder partners should be at the centre of agricultural development in many of our countries.

Distinguished Governors, ladies and gentlemen, let me express my government’s appreciation to IFAD’s financial assistance to the agricultural sector of my country. IFAD has continued to support a number of programmes in Zambia that are aimed at contributing to the agricultural development in my country. This is a clear demonstration of how our long standing partnership with IFAD is working in Zambia.

As I conclude, I wish to express my government’s commitment to improved partnerships as well as developing sustainable agriculture that will feed Zambia and the world at large, while guaranteeing sustained food production for future generations.

I thank you all.