UNDP Commissions Msoro Agro-Bulking Centre to Boost Agricultural Resilience in Mambwe District

September 25, 2025

UNDP Deputy Representative in a beige vest touches a colorful backpack as people line up near a doorway. — UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Laurent Rudasingwa, during the launch of the Msoro Bulking Centre in Mambwe District under the SCRALA Project.

Photo by: Mulapwa Mukopole/UNDP Zambia

Mambwe District, 25th September 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, and sister agencies FAO and WFP, has officially commissioned a 700-metric tonne storage capacity Agro-Bulking Centre in Mambwe District. Constructed under the Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II (SCRALA) Project with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Msoro Agro-Bulking Centre is designed to strengthen smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate shocks by improving post-harvest loss management, aggregation, and access to structured markets.

Built at a cost of 5 million kwacha (USD 234,000), the Msoro Bulking Centre will directly serve over 7000 smallholder farmers in Mambwe District. The facility is equipped with modern storage infrastructure and solar-powered water reticulation, providing farmers with a safe and reliable environment for their agricultural transactions.

Aerial view of a construction yard with a large blue-gray building and containers on brown dirt.

Aerial view of a turquoise warehouse with a curved roof surrounded by dusty dirt roads.

A teal house with a metal roof sits in a dry desert yard, a white van and a water tower nearby.

During the commissioning ceremony, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Reuben R. Phiri Mtolo, M.P., emphasized the Government’s commitment to transitioning farmers from subsistence to enterprise-oriented agriculture.

"The Msoro Bulking Centre is a programme that directly aligns with Government’s strategic direction to invest in agricultural infrastructure, including storage, to support farmers and enhance resilience and sustainability. This centre is a game-changer, and if fully utilised, it will reduce post-harvest losses by providing proper storage for produce and enable farmers to aggregate their crops, strengthening their bargaining power when negotiating with buyers," said Honourable Mtolo.

He also highlighted that the facility contributes to the Government’s Three-One-One Strategy, which aims to produce 3 million metric tonnes of maize, 1 million metric tonnes of wheat, and 1 million metric tonnes of soya beans by 2031. Farmers were encouraged to fully safeguard and utilise the bulking centre to boost productivity, resilience, and sustainability.

The Minister further noted that through the SCRALA Project, the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners have implemented initiatives in 16 districts across 5 provinces to strengthen climate resilience in farming communities. These include installing an automatic weather station and 14 manual rain gauges, training camp extension officers in agro-meteorology, constructing boreholes, promoting alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping and goat rearing, establishing farmer field schools, and providing training in financial literacy.

In addition, Mr. Laurent Rudasingwa, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, who represented the UNDP Resident Representative, James Wakiaga (PhD), reaffirmed UNDP’s support for Zambia’s agricultural resilience agenda. "With a capacity of 700 metric tonnes, the Msoro Agro-Bulking Centre enhances post-harvest management and market access for over 7,000 smallholder farmers in Mambwe District. The facility, equipped with solar-powered water reticulation and ablution blocks, can also serve as a community training hub to share climate-smart agricultural practices," he said.

Speaker in white kurta addresses outdoor crowd under a tent, microphone in hand.

Photograph of a man in a beige vest reading from a sheet under a canopy at an outdoor event.

Photograph of a man in a patterned shirt and white turban speaking at a table under a canopy.

Group of people in colorful clothing lined up on dusty ground outdoors with a green tent on left.

Line of people in colorful attire under a green canopy at a dusty outdoor event.

Photo of women in green skirts and yellow shirts performing on a dusty schoolyard; blue mat.

Group of people at a sunny outdoor market beside a table of fish; one person holds a sign.

Four adults wearing hats stand and talk on a dusty site with a colorful playground behind them.

Crowd of people listens to a man in a white shirt outside a storefront; photographers snap photos.

Implemented across 16 districts in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II, the SCRALA Project continues to strengthen smallholder farmers’ resilience through climate-smart infrastructure, institutional capacity-building, and inclusive market access.

“We are thankful for this bulking centre because it will give us better opportunities to sell our crops at good prices. This support will improve our livelihoods, and we will ensure it is put to good use for the benefit of our families and our communities,” said the Cooperative Chairperson during the handover.

Following the Cooperative Chairperson's vote of thanks, Her Royal Highness Chieftainess Msoro emphasized the importance of the new facility to her community.
“To our cooperating partners, I say thank you for investing in our community. This bulking centre will bring a return on this investment, as it will transform the way our farmers access markets. Our roads in Msoro are in poor condition, and farmers often struggle to reach buyers. With this facility, farmers will now be able to aggregate their crops in one place, attracting market actors to the community and ensuring fairer prices for their hard work,” said Chieftainess Msoro.

The commissioning of the Msoro Bulking Centre underscores the Government’s commitment to partnering with development agencies to drive agricultural transformation, promote sustainable livelihoods, and ensure no farmer is left behind in Zambia’s pursuit of economic growth and food security.

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For more information and media interviews, contact:

Mercy Khozi, Head of Communications, Mobile: 0966750787, mercy.khozi@undp.org

Theresa Kinkese, Project Manager, Mobile: 0977324346, theresa.kinkese@undp.org