Juliet Nangamba is a powerful voice for change in Zambia’s agricultural sector. An ecofeminist with over 12 years of experience, she brings together her expertise as a qualified agronomist and her passion for inclusive practices. Juliet’s work centres on advocating for the recognition and utilisation of indigenous knowledge and farmer-managed seed systems. These systems, she argues, are not only central to food security and nutrition but also hold immense potential for climate adaptation and mitigation.
With a firm belief in empowering farmers, Juliet has become a certified master trainer in various transformative approaches. Farmer Field Schools in participatory plant breeding, local food systems, and farmer seed enterprises are all part of her toolkit. These approaches share a core principle: placing farmers at the centre of the agricultural conversation. Through experiential learning, Juliet empowers farmers to become researchers, decision-makers, and active agents shaping their own food security.
Juliet’s dedication extends beyond training. Her work culminates in efforts to influence and transform the governance systems within the seed sector. Her ultimate goal? To foster inclusivity and equity throughout the agricultural value chain, ensuring that Zambia’s agricultural future is not only sustainable but also empowers all participants.
How do you believe the proposed changes to the Zambian seed laws will impact farmers, especially those in remote or marginalised areas?
The seed laws in Zambia have been biassed towards supporting and enabling the thriving of monopoly corporations with their capitalistic, reductionist model of production systems that narrows diversity for food and nutrition security. This system has limited the access to and affordability of seed for marginalised communities. If the proposed changes to the seed laws only consolidate the above status core, seed access, availability, and affordability will remain major issues for marginalised areas.
What are the key challenges that Zambian farmers currently face regarding access to seeds, and do you think the proposed changes address these challenges?
The major challenge that Zambian smallholder farmers and not all farmers face is that they are left out at the table of decision making and are only treated as end-users and seen as a means to make profits. This silences their voices in many policy processes, and their needs are never taken into consideration. The current proposed amendments leave much to be desired in terms of smallholder farmer considerations.
How do you envision the role of local communities and small-scale farmers in shaping agricultural policies, particularly those related to seed laws?
The role of local communities and smallholder farmers has been management, conservation, and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. They have been the custodians of seed, advancing plant populations from generation to generation through continuous selection and multiplication. These services have contributed to shaping both international and national policy related to seed as well as the seed value chain. However, this role needs to be well acknowledged in seed laws, especially at the national level.
How can the government, NGOs, and the private sector collaborate to ensure that these changes promote inclusivity and benefit all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain?
The above actors can collaborate to ensure a system that considers farmer varieties is promoted and put in place so that there is equity and inclusivity within the seed value. This will strengthen the seed systems and promote the diversity of crops within the value chain. In doing this, Zambia will be fulfilling its obligations under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) in support of farmer rights.
Are there any success stories or best practices from other regions that you think Zambia can learn from in implementing seed law reforms?
Zambia can learn from India, which has a diverse and robust seed system that supports the implementation of both farmers’ rights and plant breeders’ rights.