Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Systems on Smallholder Farmers: A Case Study of Chavuka Ward, Milanzi Constitutency of Katete District in Eastern Province of Zambia

Agriculture in Katete district is predominantly a smallholder, rain-fed system focus on maize cultivation, groundnuts, soybeans and sunflower. Faced with climate variability and soil degradation, the district is aggressively transitioning towards Climate-Smart Agriculture and crop diversification for example soybeans and sunflower. Katete District in Eastern Province is an agriculture-driven economy where approximately 95% of residents rely on small-scale, rain-fed farming for their livelihoods. The core of this system historically revolves around maize as the primary staple food, supplemented by cash crops such as groundnuts, sunflower, and soybeans.

The traditional agricultural system in Katete district faces significant vulnerabilities. Heavy reliance on rain-fed, maize-based monocropping has led to soil fertility depletion, deforestation, and high susceptibility to drought. Furthermore, limited farm sizes, restricted access to formal extension services, and lack of agro-processing infrastructure constrain productivity. According to Zambian Statistics Agency (Zamstats) explained that about 27.1% of farmers in Katete District are able to access the farm inputs out of 96, 132 farmers registered in the district under farmer registration by 2021/2022 farming season. In addition to low access to finance by farmers, was due to high illiteracy levels and small land cultivation which hampers agricultural development in Katete district. Lack of access by farmers to agricultural extension delivery services coupled with poor farm inputs distribution have led to poor agricultural production and productivity in the study area.

The agricultural systems in Katete District are shifting from traditional, land-expensive maize farming to sustainable, climate-resilient practices. Successful adoption of these modern systems, paired with targeted farmer education and cooperative support, is vital for mitigating environmental degradation, ensuring regional food security, and improving household income. Addressing these problems requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving access to modern inputs and technologies, enhancing financial services for smallholder farmers, and ensuring the efficient equitable implementation of government support program.