SOCIAL STUDIES NOTES

FARMING IN ZAMBIA

Agriculture/Farming
This is the growing of crops (arable farming), the keeping of domesticated animals (pastoral farming) and
birds (poultry farming) either for sell (commercial farming) or home consumption (subsistence farming).
The factors affecting Agriculture in Zambia
i. Climate
ii. Distance from the market
iii. Soils
iv. The role of the government
v. Transport facilities
vi. Diseases
vii. Vegetation
The Importance of Agriculture in Zambia
i. Source of foreign exchange
ii. Source of employment
iii. Source of food
iv. Source of raw materials
v. Source of income
vi. Source of economic growth
The types of Agriculture in Zambia
There are three types of agricultural systems practiced in Zambia and these are:
i) Subsistence/Traditional Agriculture
Is the growing of crops (arable farming), the keeping of domesticated animals
(pastoral farming) and birds (poultry farming) for home consumption with little or no
surplus for sale. This is also called small scale farming.
ii) Emergent Agriculture
Is the growing of crops (arable farming), the keeping of domesticated animals
(pastoral farming) and birds (poultry farming) for home consumption with surplus for
sale? This is also called Semi Commercial Farming.
iii) Commercial Agriculture
Is the growing of crops (arable farming), the keeping of domesticated animals
(pastoral farming) and birds (poultry farming) for sale

SUBSISTENCE/TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

Characteristics of Subsistence/Traditional Agricultural system
i. Small farms
ii. Grow crops such as maize, millet, cassava, beans, groundnuts, sweet potatoes
iii. Use Simple tools such as axes, hoes, pangas and sticks
iv. Low productions
v. No use of chemicals and fertilizers)

1. THE LOZI SYSTEM

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 The Lozi system is made up of five different agricultural techniques namely Matema, Matongo,
Mazulu, Lishanjo and Litapa
a) Matema (Litema) - means Cut-over area. It is similar to Chitemene farming system. Cassava is the
main crop grown
b) Matongo (Litongo) -Crops are grown during the rainy season on lower slopes of the plateau. No
chemical fertilizers are used, only cow dung
c) Mazulu (Lizulu) -It means an anthill. This farming is done on anthill made by termites due
flooding. Crops grown are maize, sorghum, pumpkins, groundnuts and sweet potatoes.
d) Lishanjo (Sishango) -This farming is done at the edge of the plains practiced throughout the year.
Crops are planted in June, harvested in November, then crops are again planted in November and
harvested in May and June.
e) Litapa (Silapa) -This farming is done in large shallow depressions in the plains. Cultivation is in
May, planting in June and harvest in November.

Crops grown under Lozi farming system

Cassava, Maize, Sorghum, pumpkins, Groundnuts and Sweet potatoes.

Transhumance
It is the seasonal movement of the Lozi people of Western province with their animals from the
floodplain to the upland.
Advantages of the Lozi system
i. No use of chemical fertilizer
ii. Application of manure improves soil fertility
iii. Practice mixed farming of animals and crops
Disadvantages of the Lozi system
i. Cutting of trees lead to deforestation
ii. Needs a lot of labour
iii. Farmers lose crops to floods

2. CHITEMENE SYSTEM
Chitemene It is a Bemba word which means Cut Over Area. It is called Ntena in North Western.
Chitemene system is also known as slash and burn or shifting cultivation. Under this system tree
branches are slashed and heaped in one area. After they have dried, they are burnt so that the
ash acts as fertiliser. It is mainly practised in Northern, Luapula, North Western, Western,
Copperbelt and Central province.

How Chitemene is done

- Between May and August, small trees and branches of large trees are chopped down by men and
boys
- Smaller trees are chopped about a meter above the ground.
- In September/October, women carry branches and pile them up in circular stacks (heaps) within
the cleared area.
- Around October/November, at the onset of the rains, the stacks are burnt to produce an ash bed.
- The ash-covered patch is then cultivated
- Sowing/planting is done in November/December.
- After using the piece of land for 3-4 years, it is abandoned and then the farmer shifts to a
- new piece of land (normally virgin) as the old one has lost fertility (hence the name shifting
cultivation).

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 Crops grown under Chitemene system
The crops grown include millet, maize, cassava, pumpkins, myungu, cowpeas, sweet potatoes,
sorghum, groundnuts and beans.
Advantages of Chitemene system
i. Burning kills harmful insects and pests
ii. Ash act as cheap fertilizer
iii. Use simple tools like hoes and axes
iv. Requires only small capital
v. Use of cheap labour
Disadvantages of Chitemene system
i. Useful organisms are killed in the soil
ii. It promote deforestation
iii. It encourages soil erosion
iv. Burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
v. Nitrogen is lost in the atmosphere by burning
vi. The Eco-system is disturbed.
vii. The habitat (homes for living things) is destroyed.
Farming tools and inputs used by Chitemene farmers.
a. Farming tools
Hoes, axes, watering cans, oxen, ox-drawn ploughs
b. Farming inputs
Chicken droppings, cow dungs, ashes
The effects of Chitemene system (Shifting Cultivation) on the environment
i. it causes deforestation
ii. it causes soil erosion
iii. it causes low productivity
iv. it causes air pollution
v. it causes global warming
vi. it causes rainfall variability (changes in rainfall patterns)

Factors favoring (encouraging) Chitemene system

i. Burning neutralizes the acidic soil to make it fertile
ii. Poor, infertile soils
iii. Presence of heavy rainfall which encourage the growth of trees.
iv. Bembas are not traditional cattle-keepers
v. Low population densities in places where Chitemene is practiced
vi. The farmers are poor and cannot afford to buy farming inputs e.g. pesticides,
inorganic fertilizers e.t.c.

The reason for the decline of Chitemene system

i. Community education on deforestation
ii. Depletion of forests
iii. High demand for land for settlement
iv. Introduction of improved farming practices
v. Diversification of farming

3. MAMBWE SYSTEM

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 It is also known as Fundika. The Mambwe systems involve the cutting of grass and bury them in
the mound. After sometime, the mounds are opened and the manure soils are spread where
cultivation is to be done at the beginning of the rainy season. It is practiced in Northern and
North Eastern parts of Zambia.
How it is done
The system involves:
- Making mounds towards the end of the rainy season, between May and April.
- A grass patch is usually chosen so that the covered grass can serve as manure.
- Opening of the mounds and spreading the manured soil at the beginning of the rainy season,
October/November.
- Sowing of millet which is the main staple food crop interspaced by maize, pumpkins and myungu.
- After the first harvest of millet, stubbles are collected in heaps and covered with soil to make
mounds for the second year.
- When these are opened up another crop of millet can be planted.
Crops grown under Mambwe system
Maize, Millet, Cassava, Beans and Groundnut.
Advantages of Mambwe system
i. No cutting down of trees
ii. No use of chemical fertilizers
Disadvantages of Mambwe system
i. Needs a lot of labour to make moulds
ii. It discourages mixed farming
Crops grown under traditional shifting cultivation
Millet, Cassava, Sorghum. Maize, Sweet potatoes, Groundnuts. Lentils
Problems associated with/faced by subsistence (Traditional) farming
i. Soil erosion – This is the removal of topsoil by agents such as rain, wind or running water.
ii. Diminishing yields – This is the decrease in production mainly due to unsustainable methods of
farming.
iii. Deforestation – Due to cutting of trees which help hold soil together, this can lead to soil erosion
and desertification.
iv. Bush fires – This is due to early burning of fields and hunting.
v. Lack of capital – No money to purchase inputs or machinery.
vi. Lack of inputs - fertilizers and seed
vii. Lack of education –Little knowledge on farming
viii. Unreliable climatic conditions – little rainfall and high temperature
ix. Mono cropping – growing of type of crop leads to soil impoverishment.
x. Pests and diseases –Trypanosomiasis (nagana) and corridor disease.
xi. Market – lack of good market to sale farm products
xii. Poor transport – especially the impassable roads.
xiii. Long distance -to markets especially to urban areas.
The effects of subsistence (Traditional) farming practices on the environment
i. Soil erosion
ii. Deforestation
iii. Destruction of natural homes of plants and animals
iv. Displacement of wildlife due to cleared land
v. Desertification caused by cutting down of trees
vi. Pollution caused by burning
COMMERCIAL FARMING

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Commercial farming is the growing of crops and the rearing of animals on a large scale for sale at a profit.
Crops grown include: vegetables such as tomatoes, fruits like bananas, tea, coffee and so on. Animals
kept include cattle, pigs, goats, chickens and so on.

Types of commercial farming

Just like the same way traditional farming is of different types, so is commercial farming. Commercial
farming types depends on the crops grown. It includes mixed farming, plantation farming, market
gardening, livestock farming and horticulture.

The characteristics of commercial farming

a) Large scale
The farms are usually large and large pieces are usually required. This is also because processing
is usually done on site.
b) Mechanization
It is highly mechanized meaning most of the work done uses machines. The machines used
include tractors, trucks, planters, shellers, combined harvesters and helicopters for spraying
pesticides. Mechanized framing encourages large scale production and improved quality of
produce.
c) Export oriented
The produce is primarily for sale both to local and foreign customers so it involves a high level of
organization. Produce must be of high quality to effectively compete on the market. It usually
located near urban areas with well-developed transport and communication networks.
d) Use of chemicals and fertilizers
Chemicals are used to control pests and diseases. Helicopters are used to spray chemicals since
the farms are large. Artificial fertilizers are also used to make the soil fertile. These fertilizers
contain element such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are needed by all crops.
e) Skilled labour
It requires skilled labour for many of its functions. For example, there is need for a well-trained
pilot to fly the helicopter as well as trained drivers to operate the combined harvesters and so on.
f) Large financial investments
Because of the methods used to run these farms, a lot of capital is needed to buy the machines
and for operational costs.

Crops grown under commercial farming

A cash crop is a crop that is grown mainly for sale other than for use by the farmer. In Zambia, we have a
lot of cash crops that are grown in different parts of the country and these require different growing
conditions.
a) Maize- it requires temperatures of over 18°C and summer rain of 650mm. It needs well
drained soils rich in humus. It is produced in all parts of Zambia but Eastern province is
the major producer.
b) Tobacco- grows in areas with temperatures above 21°C and well drained soils. Rainfall
between 600mm to 900mm.The major producer is Nyimba in Eastern province.
c) Cotton- grows in rich soils with temperatures of over 20°Cand rainfall over 500mm.Main
growing areas include Chipata in Eastern province and Kabwe in Central province.
d) Coffee- Temperature between 18°C and 24°C.Heavy rainfall of 1000mm. Requires fertile
and well drained soils. Mainly grown in Kasama in Northern Province.
e) Wheat-grown mainly under irrigation in Lusaka, Northern and Southern provinces.
Minimum temperatures of 16°C and rainfall between 250mm to 900mm.

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 f) Sugar cane- grown under irrigation by Nakambala Sugar Estates in Mazabuka. Requires
warm temperature with minimum of 25°C and rainfall of over 1500mm.
g) Bananas- grown at Mununshi in Mansa Luapula province. Temperature of over 20°C and
rainfall of 1000mm.
h) Pineapples- mainly grown in Mwinilunga and Ikelenge district of North Western province.
It requires temperatures between 15°C to 30°C. Rainfall between 1000mm to 1500mm.
i) Tea- requires warm temperatures between 10°C to 32°C. Rainfall of over 1500mm and
mainly grown in Kawambwa in Luapula province.

1) Plantation farming (Estate) in Zambia

Plantation or Estate farming is the growing of tree crops such as banana, pineapples cotton, tobacco,
sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, tea, rubber and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.
The Location of plantation agriculture in Zambia
1) Nakambala sugar Estate in Mazabuka
2) Kaleya Small holding in Mazabuka
3) Ngoli coffee Estate in Kasama
4) Kateshi Coffee Estate in Kasama
5) Kawambwa tea Estate in Kawambwa
6) Mununshi Banana Scheme in Luapula
7) Dunlop rubber plantation at Nchelenge.
8) Chiawa Banana Scheme in Chiawa
The characteristics of estate/plantation farming
1) Plantations are usually foreign owned by large companies.
2) Processing of produce is done on site
3) They are labor intensive, meaning they employ a lot of people
4) They are usually export-oriented, meaning they mainly export their produce
5) They require large capital
6) They require large scale irrigation
7) They require long term investment
8) They concentrate on monoculture meaning growing one type of crop

2) Pastoral farming
It is the rearing or keeping of domesticated animals and birds either for sell or home consumption.
Livestock (pastoral) farming in Zambia is practised under both subsistence (Traditional) and commercial
farming.

3) Cattle Ranching in Zambia

It is the commercial keeping of cattle for beef.
Reasons why major Ranching areas in Zambia located along the line of rail
i. Availability of cheap and reliable transport.
ii. Ready market for beef and other animal products.
iii. There are no tsetse flies.
Cattle ranching breeds
The most popular commercial breeds reared in ranches are cross breeds between local (Angoni) breed
and Exotic (Afrikander or Boran) breeds.

Reasons farmers cross breed the animals

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In order to come up with animals that can with stand high summer temperatures and poor winter
feeding.
Efforts put in place to increase beef production.
i. Setting up of state ranches in many parts of the country e.g. Mbesuma ranch in Chisali,
i. Chisamba ranch in Chisamba and Irumi ranch in Mkushi.
ii. By opening new undeveloped areas.
iii. By teaching local people how to care for their livestock.
iv. By producing breeding stock for sale to commercial famers.
v. By producing beef for sale to local areas.

4) Dairying Farming
It is the rearing of cattle for milk production.
The chief dairy breeds reared for milk production in Zambia.
i. Friesians (most common breed)
ii. Jerseys
iii. Ayrshires.
Milk processing companies (plants) and creameries in Zambia
i. Zambeef in Lusaka, Chisamba and Mongu.
ii. Parmalat in Lusaka.
iii. Luscold in Lusaka.
iv. Finta Danish Dairies in Livingstone (these produce long life milk)
Products obtained from milk.
i. Cheese
ii. Butter
iii. Ice cream
iv. Yoghurt

5) Poultry
It is the rearing of chickens, ducks, geese and ostriches for meat and eggs.
Hatchery
It is a process of producing chicks from eggs under artificial condition.
Hatchery companies in Zambia
Hybrid Company-It is leading producer of day old chicks in Zambia. It supplies its chicks to poultry farmers
within the country and to other countries like Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Hybrid is located in Lusaka and Kitwe.

Other Livestock
1. Pigs
Pigs are reared by both Traditional (subsistence) and commercial farmers in Southern, Eastern
and Lusaka provinces.
2. Sheep
Sheep are mostly kept by traditional farmers in Southern Northern and Eastern province
The factors discouraging the Rearing of Sheep in other Parts of Zambia
a. High temperature cause rot and parasites
b. Tall grass is not suitable for sheep grazing.
c. Limited market for mutton (meat).
The black head Persian Sheep- This is a non-wool bearing sheep kept by most farmers in Zambia
because it is hardy and can withstand climatic conditional.

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 Sheep rearing is less important in Zambia because the climate is not very suitable for sheep
rearing.
3. Goats
The goats are the only domestic animals reared in all provinces of Zambia because they are able
to survive even in the absence of good pastures. They can live by eating branches, bark and
leaves.

Importance of Livestock/ Pastoral farming in Zambia

i. The domestic animals kept are a source of food like meat and milk.
ii. The domestic animals also provide leather, hair and wool used for making blankets, clothing
etc.
iii. The domestic animals like cattle are used for manure (cow dung), transport and bridal
payment (lobola).

The areas where (livestock) pastoral farming is practiced in Zambia.

i. Western province in Mongu.
ii. Southern Province especially along the line of rail from Livingstone – Mazabuka and also in
Namwala.
iii. Northern Province especially in Kasama and Mbala.
iv. Eastern Province especially in Chipata and Petauke.
v. Other areas include Kitwe, Lusaka, Chisamba and Serenje.

The factors that influence Livestock (Pastoral) farming in Zambia

i. Rainfall.
Places that receive high rain are more suitable for livestock than places with little no
rainfall.
ii. Temperature
Places that are very hot are not good for domestic animals or rearing eg Luangwa and
Zambezi valley are too hot for cattle rearing.
iii. Diseases
Places with cases of diseases such as trypanosomiasis (nagana) east coast fever, foot and
mouth disease, anthrax, contagious bovine pleuro –pneumonia, heart water and lamp
skin disease are not suitable domestic animals rearing.
iv. Vegetation
Places with plenty of natural pastures and shade are suitable for domestic animal rearing
e.g. open woodlands forest.
v. Nearness to market
If animals have to work or travel long distances to the market they will lose weight and
even the price will reduce.
vi. Symbol of wealth
vii. Traditional cattle keepers such as Tonga, Ila, Lozi, Ngoni and Mambwe are interested in
numbers rather than quality of the cattle they have.
viii. Cattle rustling
It is the stealing of cattle from the farmers. Cattle rustling is common in southern and
western province.

The role of the government in promoting (Livestock) pastoral farming in Zambia

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 i. The government has set up many ranches in many parts of Zambia to breed domestic animals
and supply to farmers.
ii. The government train agriculture officers to take care of pastoral farmers domestic animals
and offer advice to them.
iii. The government encourages the setting up of support institutions such as ZAMBEEF who
purchase animals and animal products from farmers.
iv. The government controls the diseases through the department of veterinary and livestock.

Overgrazing
It is the keeping too many domestic animals on a place of land such that the grass cannot grow
properly.
Overstocking
This is the keeping of too many cattle on a small place of land.
6) Mixed Farming
This is the cultivation of different crops and the rearing of livestock at the same time on the same farm.
The Crops grown includes maize, wheat, Soya beans and Livestock reared include cattle, goats, sheep.

7) Market garden Farming

This is the intensive growing of vegetables and mainly for sale near urban areas.
It is also called Truck Farming (transportation)
This is carried out near urban areas where transport is available and ready market for the products.
The chief vegetables grown are potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, beans, egg plants, carrots, beet
roots, lettuce and chili pepper.
Fruits such as bananas, mangoes, avocado, guava and pineapples are produced seasonally.

8) Horticulture
This involves the production of ornamental plants such as flowers for sale locally and for export.

9) Irrigation Agriculture
This is the growing of crops in the dry part of the year by supplying water from rivers, boreholes and
reservoirs (dams).

What are the Importance of Irrigation?

1) Irrigation transforms bare land into areas of green vegetation.
2) It enables the farmers to use a piece of land to produce crops two three times in a year.
3) It is one way of increasing food production to achieve household and National food
security (self-sufficiency)

Name the Methods of Irrigation

1) Sprinklers
2) Canals
3) Flooding
4) Over-head irrigation

Name the areas of Irrigation

1) Areas around Lusaka for green maize, vegetables, flowers and wheat.
2) Chisamba area for green maize, vegetables, wheat and flowers.
3) Mpongwe area mainly for wheat but also coffee.

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 4) Mazabuka area for wheat and sugarcane.

List the factors which makes necessary to undertake Large scale Irrigation
- Its flat land which gently slopes towards the river is ideal for irrigation.
- The presence of a river and its tributaries as fallows are made from there.

Name the crops grown by Irrigation

- Maize (sweet corn), cabbage, tomatoes, onions, Irish potatoes, rape, carrots and green
pepper for local market.
- Others are roses, gladioli, fillers and vegetables such as baby corn, paprika, green beans, peas
and asparagus for the export market are grown.

The Positive effects of Irrigation

- It transforms bare land into an area of green vegetation
- If the land is planted with tree crops like coffee, bananas and tea, this increases the land‘s
retention of rainwater as ground water.
- Large scale growing of tree crops aided by irrigation makes the climate wetter in the long run.
- Growing crops twice or three times in a year increases food and raw material production in the
country.

The Negative effects of Irrigation

- Salination: when the land ids continuously used for irrigation, the fertilizer used make it saline
and this reduce productivity.
- Water diseases: Irrigated areas have an increase in snails and mosquito populations which
transmit bilharzias and malaria respectively.
- Fertilizers used on agricultural lands next to the river under irrigation will be washed into the
river. This will lead to the growth of aquatic plants which may sometimes be obstacles to
navigation on rivers.

Cash crop farming

- It is a crop grown for sale

Types or cash crops grown in Zambia

Maize, tobacco, groundnuts, cotton, coffee, tea, sugarcane, sunflower, soya beans, rice, rubber, wheat
and pineapples.

Reasons why maize is an important cash crop in Zambia

i. it is a staple food
ii. it is used as folder crop for feeding cattle
iii. it is used as raw material in opaque brewing and production of Millie meal

Examples of cash crops used as raw materials in Zambia

Cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, sunflower, wheat and groundnuts.

Towns that have cotton ginnery in Zambia

Lusaka, Mumbwa and Chipata

Crop diversification

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It is the growing of different types of crops at the same time such as maize, cotton and sorghum.

Importance of crop diversification

1) It increases the production of cash crops
2) It gives a variety of crops grown
3) It improves the methods of collecting crops
4) It improves the marketing of crops
5) It improves the income generation of farmers

Crop rotation
It is the growing of different crops on the same field year after year to maintain nutrients and soil fertility.

Importance of crop rotation

a) it improves soil fertility
b) it adds nutrients to the soil
c) it promotes nitrogen in the soil
d) it discourages life cycle of harmful pests
e) it reduces soil leaching(downward loss of nutrients )
f) it improves soil structure

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