TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS TO IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY: A COMPARISON BETWEEN MAIZE AND SORGHUM IN THE SORGHUM-BASED CULTIVATON SYSTEM OF NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE, ZAMBIA

Abstract

Zambia, Some County Statistics: Zambia is a landlocked country in the Southern African region. With an area of 74,072,000 hectares (ha) and a population estimated at 7 million, it has one of the lowest person/land ratios in Africa. Its annual population growth rate is high, however, estimated at 3.5 percent (World Development Report, 1988). Zambia's economy is highly dependent on copper earnings. Mineral exports formed 96 percent of total exports in 1986. With generally declining copper prices since 1974 and a rising import bill, Zambia's economy has been severely strained. Fuel imports formed 43 percent of the total imports in 1985, rising from only 10 percent in 1965. The economy: Despite its efforts to diversify the economy from a mining base to agriculture, Zambia today remains a net importer of food. Cereal imports rose from 93,000 metric tonnes (mt) in 1974 to 247,000 mt in 1985. In addition food aid increased from 5,000 mt to 112,000 mt during the same period (World Development Report; 1987, 1988). Between 1970 and 1984, the cost of importing food continued to rise.Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty,