Government has called for increased private-sector investment in Zambia’s livestock sector as it targets US$1 billion in annual beef exports and a cattle population of 11 million by 2031.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary, Dr Max Choombe, made the call during a high-level panel discussion on Livestock Transformation Pathways: Investing in Better Nutrition, Stronger Livelihoods, and Climate-Resilient Growth.
The discussion was held at the 2026 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Choombe identified investment opportunities in animal disease prevention and control, veterinary laboratories, livestock breeding and production, processing, value addition, transportation, logistics and farmer financing.
He said the government was strengthening disease surveillance and working to establish more Animal Disease-Free Compartments in line with World Organisation for Animal Health standards to improve Zambia’s access to international beef markets.
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“Public-private partnerships were critical to transforming the livestock sector, noting that investment would help increase productivity, expand exports, create jobs and improve incomes for small-scale farmers,” Choombe said.
He called on development partners, financial institutions and private investors to support Zambia’s livestock development agenda.
Choombe said the targets of US$1 billion in annual beef exports and 11 million cattle by 2031 were intended to diversify the economy, expand agricultural exports and contribute to the Grow Zambia Agenda.
“The livestock sector remains a key pillar for economic diversification, rural livelihoods and food security,” he said.
He noted that achieving the targets would required coordinated investment across the entire beef value chain, from breeding and production to processing and export.
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