LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Reinforcing AFAP’s strategic commitment to Zambia, Mrs. Lade Araba, Director of Financial Services, recently visited the country for high-level meetings with essential partners across the agricultural value chain. This visit highlights the critical role of financial services and robust partnerships in driving AFAP Zambia’s initiatives.

Mrs. Araba met with a diverse group of key collaborators, demonstrating AFAP’s integrated approach. Discussions were held with leading input suppliers FSG and Yara, crucial for ensuring product availability. Engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed the vital public-private partnership framework. The schedule also included meetings with IRM, focusing on specialized aspects of market support, and significantly, with partner Hub Agro dealers, who play a pivotal role in the last-mile distribution of inputs to farmers.

As AFAP’s VP of Financial Services, Mrs. Araba’s engagement particularly emphasized the financial mechanisms and market development strategies that AFAP champions. Strengthening collaboration with input companies, government bodies, financial service providers, and agro-dealers is fundamental to initiatives aimed at improving access to inputs and finance, such as AFAP’s Trade Credit Guarantee programs, ultimately benefiting Zambian farmers.