Zambia raises funding for Kanyama Cattle Breeding Centre to improve operations
Move comes as authorities aim to expand cattle exports by 2026
ZAMBIA – The Zambian government has raised the budget for the Kanyama Cattle Breeding Centre in Mwinilunga District, Northwestern Province, from about K600,000 (US$32,000) to nearly K2.9 million (US$156,000) for the 2026 fiscal year.
Officials said the larger allocation, revealed during a fact-finding mission by a Presidential Delivery Unit team led by Assistant Director Kalonde Mutuna, is intended to improve the centre’s capacity and address persistent infrastructure constraints.
During the visit, the PDU team evaluated the facility’s performance since its establishment in 2013 and identified critical gaps, including the need for reliable electricity and a properly built loading bay for cattle.
The assessment was also framed by Zambia’s national livestock export goal of achieving US$1 billion in cattle sales in 2026, with authorities seeking ways to expand and strengthen the value chain.
Local traditional leadership welcomed the changes, with Chief Kanyama of the Lunda-speaking community in Mwinilunga District expressing gratitude to President Hakainde Hichilema for the steps taken to integrate centre staff into the government payroll.
Chief Kanyama said formalising employment will improve morale among workers at the facility, which has long operated with limited resources and staffing incentives.
He described the increased financial commitment as a necessary adjustment to address many of the operational challenges that have hindered productivity at the breeding centre over the years.
Zambia’s livestock sector contributes significantly to the agricultural economy, accounting for roughly 42% of agricultural gross domestic product and providing direct employment for about half of the rural workforce.
The sector is predominantly rural and smallholder-driven, with about 94% of the country’s approximately 4.69 million cattle owned by small-scale farmers, alongside roughly 3.5 million goats, 1.1 million pigs and 15 million village chickens.
Production is heavily concentrated in the Southern, Eastern, and Central provinces, where animals are largely reared in extensive, traditional systems that yield lower productivity than regional peers, according to international assessments.
Despite these challenges, national livestock numbers have been rising steadily, with cattle populations growing at an annual rate of around 3.5%, and sector output indicators such as the livestock production index showing growth over recent years.
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