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In Zambia’s Rufunsa District, farming is more than a way of life, it’s a cultural inheritance. Unfortunately, that inheritance is under threat.
At the recently held District Seed and Food Fair, local smallholder farmers practicing agroecology raised their voices in calling for the protection of traditional farming knowledge and indigenous seed systems.
Their message was loud, clear and urgent: safeguard the wisdom passed down through generations before it disappears under the shadow of commercial agriculture.
“This knowledge has been with us for generations,” declared Joyce Mumba, a smallholder farmer who delivered a passionate communique on behalf of her peers. “It is our heritage and must be protected from piracy.
“We want our right to save, share and exchange seeds to be respected, as stated under Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.”
Her words echoed a broader concern shared by many rural communities across Zambia, that the rapid commercialization of agriculture, coupled with restrictive seed laws and patenting practices, is steadily eroding farmers’ seed sovereignty.
A Platform for More Than Just Food
The Seed and Food Fair, organized by the Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) and its partners, brought together farmers, local leaders, NGOs and policy advocates.
But beyond celebrating local produce and agroecological methods, the event became a platform for policy dialogue, cultural preservation, and resistance.
Kennedy Mailoni, Rufunsa District Council Chairperson, who officiated the event, emphasized the significance of local seed varieties:
“Local seeds are not just about crop production, they are the foundation of our food security, nutrition, and cultural identity,” he said. “We must protect them from the threats of commercialization and the growing dominance of hybrid varieties.”
A Battle for Biodiversity and Rights
Across Zambia, traditional seed systems built on community sharing, selection and adaptation are increasingly vulnerable.
Seed policies often favor hybrid and genetically modified varieties, sidelining local practices that have sustained communities for centuries.
Charles Nkhoma, Country Director for CTDT, pointed to a possible turning point: “The proposed policy revisions will allow traditional seeds to be available in agro-dealer shops,” he noted.
“This is a crucial step toward supporting farmers’ seed sovereignty.”
Such revisions, if implemented, could help bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledge and formal agricultural systems, making indigenous seeds more accessible and recognized within official markets.
Mobilizing for Change
The call for action goes beyond Rufunsa. Omali Phiri, Programs Officer for the Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity (ZAAB), underscored the need for grassroots mobilization:
“We must create a movement that reflects the voices of our farmers, not just what’s convenient for industry or policy makers,” she said.
Her words reflect a growing consensus among agroecology advocates: policies must be shaped by the people who live and breathe the land not dictated solely by market forces or foreign interests.
Looking Ahead
As Zambia navigates a critical phase of agricultural transformation, the farmers of Rufunsa have sent a powerful reminder to the nation: progress must not come at the cost of heritage.
Their seeds are more than tools for cultivation they are vessels of history, identity and resilience.
The future of sustainable agriculture in Zambia may well depend on how seriously this message is taken not just in policy corridors, but in every corner of the country where a farmer still plants a seed in faith.
Download the Knowledge product “Converting from commercial to organic farm management” by Namibian Organic Association from the link below for more details on sustainable farming.
