An Assessment of the Zambian Agricultural Policy on Empowerment of Small-Scale Women Farmers: Case Study of Musakwiye Farming Cooperative in Chipata District

Women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields and of the first time, the Zambian Government outlined specific objectives in its National Agriculture Policy, targeting empowerment of women small scale farmers. Therefore, efforts were made to assess how these policies are playing out and the impact they are bearing on the empowerment of the women small scale farmers. The study was undertaken in Chipata District through a case study approach. The General objective was to assess National Agricultural Policy on empowerment of small scale women farmers. Research questions included; Has policy enhanced access to appropriate agricultural technologies for women small scale farmers; Has policy improved access to markets for women small scale farmers? And how policy is promoting access to Agro – related information for women small scale farmers?

The investigation was accomplished through qualitative research methods and 50 questionnaires were distributed to women small scale farmers from Chipata District. The results from the findings showed that whilst the women small scale farmers are very much dependent on government and its policies for their farming engagements, the help that they are getting on the other hand, is somewhat limited. These limitations have necessitated for them to come up with alternative means to self-empowerment in order to enhance their farming activities.