Farming context: Zambia
Zambia fertilizer estimates use the selected crop, field, soil and product assumptions from the ZM agriculture dataset. Check local conditions before applying national averages.
| Agriculture share of GDP | ~3% |
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| Arable land | 3,800,000 ha |
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| Irrigated share | ~3% |
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| Main food crops | maize, cassava, groundnut, sorghum, millet, sweet potato |
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| Main export crops | tobacco, cotton, sugar cane, soybean |
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Country context from the AfroTools agriculture dataset - planning reference, not agronomic advice. Confirm with local extension services.
Fertilizer Use in Zambia
Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country where agriculture plays a vital role in the economy and livelihoods, with maize as the dominant food and political crop. The country consumes approximately 200,000 to 350,000 tonnes of fertilizer annually, with a large share consumed under the government's Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). Other important crops include tobacco, cotton, soybeans, groundnuts, wheat, and sugarcane. Zambia has some domestic fertilizer manufacturing capacity, with Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) and other companies producing or blending fertilizers locally. Imports come through Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and South African supply chains. The country's well-distributed rainfall and generally fertile soils in the central and northern provinces provide good conditions for fertilizer-responsive agriculture. The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) represents commercial and emerging farmers' interests in input policy.
Common Fertilizer Types
Compound D (10-20-10) is the most widely used basal fertilizer in Zambia, particularly for maize under the FISP program. Urea (46-0-0) is the standard nitrogen top-dressing for maize. These two products dominate the fertilizer market due to their inclusion in the FISP package. For tobacco, compound fertilizer S (8-20-14+6S) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) are used through contract farming arrangements. NPK 10-10-20 is recommended for cassava in the northern provinces. For the sugarcane industry in Mazabuka and the Southern Province, intensive nitrogen fertilization programs use urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solutions. DAP is used in commercial wheat and soybean production. Zambian soils, particularly the acidic, phosphorus-fixing soils of the northern provinces, respond well to lime application, which is promoted alongside fertilizer use. Organic amendments from livestock manure and compost are encouraged as complements to mineral fertilizer.
Subsidy Programs & Access
Zambia's Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is one of Southern Africa's largest agricultural input subsidy schemes, consuming a significant portion of the Ministry of Agriculture's budget. Under FISP, eligible smallholder farmers receive a package of subsidized inputs, typically including 200 kg of basal fertilizer (Compound D), 200 kg of top-dressing (urea), and 10 kg of maize seed, at approximately 50 to 75% below market prices. Beneficiary selection is done at community level by camp agricultural officers and community committees, using criteria including smallholder status and vulnerability. The government has been transitioning from physical distribution through depots to an e-voucher system (FISP-e) to improve efficiency, farmer choice, and private sector participation. Distribution occurs through cooperative depots, Zambia National Service camps, and approved agro-dealers. Despite significant investment, FISP has faced criticism for targeting inefficiencies, late delivery, and limited crop diversification (overwhelming focus on maize). Ongoing reforms aim to improve the program's cost-effectiveness and impact on food security and household incomes.