“Solar Powered Water Pumping and Irrigation Systems are a qualitative and feasible solution for commercial farming in Zambia”

1)    Let’s start with some background and history on the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC in Zambia…
The Southern African – German Chamber, established in 1952, is the largest bi-lateral Chamber of Commerce in Southern Africa, representing more than 630 member companies from Southern Africa and Germany. With offices in South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban), in Mozambique (Maputo) and a representative in Zimbabwe (Harare). 

In early 2016 the SAGCC opened a representative office in Lusaka as the emergence of Zambia as the third largest economy in Southern Africa over the last years has underlined the opportunities vast of this market. The Chamber will offer companies from Germany a comprehensive platform for engaging in bi-lateral business relations with the protagonists of the vibrant Zambian economy. 

2)    Any exciting projects that the Chamber is involved in currently?
The young history of the Lusaka Office has been an active one. We have facilitated an inbound delegation from the renewable energy sector in early February.  Together with Germany Trade and Invest and the GIZ we are currently issuing an investment guide for Zambia to bring more German companies here to evaluate the vast opportunities on the spot. Parallel to that we are strengthening and enlarging our ties to Zambian business community. A series of first official visits with institutional partners and business representatives will culminate in the official inauguration of the Lusaka Office with high-level guests from Zambia and Germany in late May. 

3)    You will address the Agritech Expo Commercial Farmers Focus Day on “Building a reliable power supply: Solar-Photovoltaics in Agriculture” – can you give us a sneak preview of what your message will be to the farmers?
Commercial farming is facing challenging times in Zambia – a drought of unknown dimension until now has hit the country combined with severe load shedding affecting the energy supply of all farmers, especially critical in regard to the water pumping and irrigation. In cooperation with PEP - The Renewable Energy Project Development Programme which is supported by the German Government, we have prepared a presentation showing a variety of alternatives to the sole use of diesel generators. The key message will be that Solar Powered Water Pumping and Irrigation Systems are a qualitative and feasible solution for commercial farming in Zambia. I will highlight the cost effectiveness and also give an overview of the available financial support schemes to make quality solar products "made in Germany" available for Zambian farmers. 

5)    Is this solution only for commercial farmers?
We have focused on commercial farming for our contribution within the conference programme as this is the target group of the conference. There are already numerous examples where decentralized renewable energy solutions have boosted small scale farming in Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to learn more about the demand of Zambian Farmers, we have prepared a questionnaire to learn in which areas there is an increased demand for e.g. knowledge transfer or technical and commercial training, know-how transfer. There is a growing number of emerging farmers in Zambia and conference attendees can help us to improve our services and cater their specific needs.

6)    There is quite a large German presence at Agritech Expo this year – why do you think this is?
The strong German presence is the mutually exacerbating effect of two developments: the strong bilateral cooperation of Zambia and Germany in the field of food and agriculture on the one hand side. The ministers of agriculture of both countries in January 2016 signed a declaration of mutual cooperation. The German-Zambian Agricultural Knowledge and Training Center (AKTC) which was officially opened in 2015 in Lusaka is underlining the German commitment to this long term partnership. On the other hand there is a vast potential for food production and agribusiness in Zambian and the doubling of German exhibitors compared to last year is a clear expression of interest from the German private sector. 

7)    Anything else you would like to add?
I am excited to participate in the Agri Tech Expo for the first time this year.  For the newly opened Lusaka Office of the SA German-Chamber of Commerce and Industry it is a perfect opportunity to strengthen existing ties and establish new networks in this vibrant sector.