Zambia will export $200 million worth of beef in September

Zambia will export an estimated 20,000 tonnes of beef in September, generating $200 million in revenue, according to Fisheries and Livestock Minister Peter Kapala.

Speaking in an interview with Phoenix News, Mr Kapala said the export drive is part of the New Dawn government’s overall strategy for establishing a $1 billion beef industry in Zambia.

He explained that the government is looking to leverage Zambia’s vast agricultural potential to create a more resilient and prosperous economy, as well as to diversify the country’s economic output beyond just mining.

He added that in order to ensure the long-term success of Zambia’s beef industry, government is investing heavily in disease prevention, including cattle vaccination and digital tracking.

President Hichilema, himself a successful cattle rancher, has made livestock expansion a priority for growing and diversifying Zambia’s rural economy.

Since taking office in 2021, President Hichilema has made increasing Zambia’s livestock population a major priority. In 2022, the cattle population stood at 4.9 million – by 2023 this had increased to 5.1 million.

Since 2024, Zambia’s livestock population is growing at a rate of 8.2% per year, putting the country well on track to reach its target of 7 million animals by 2027.

The greatest increases have come in Southern Province, which now accounts for 41.6% of the national cattle population. Eastern Province comes second with 19.8% of national stocks, followed by Central Province on 14.6%.