Zambia opens upgraded Livingstone plant lab to halve testing costs, fast-track agricultural exports
This enables faster export certification and improves compliance with international phytosanitary standards.
ZAMBIA – Zambia has officially inaugurated an upgraded Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service laboratory in Livingstone to enhance agricultural trade and plant health safety.
The modernised facility is expected to reduce testing expenses and processing times for local farmers and exporters by up to 50%. The rehabilitation project was executed through a collaborative partnership between the Government of Zambia and TradeMark Africa, backed by funding from the United Kingdom.
On 7 August 2026, Mr Siazongo Siakalenge, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, and Hope Situmbeko, TMA Regional Director for Southern Africa, officially handed over the facility.
The scope of work involved comprehensive rehabilitation of laboratory and office space, installation of durable laboratory worktops, enhanced security systems, and deployment of essential modern diagnostic equipment.
Highlighting the strategic value, Siakalenge said: “This laboratory is an investment in the competitiveness of our farmers and the integrity of our plant health system. As Zambia works to expand agricultural exports and deepen regional trade, facilities such as this help ensure that our plants and plant products are safe, compliant and able to move efficiently to market.“
Furthermore, the upgraded laboratory boosts surveillance and diagnostic precision for several high-consequence plant health threats. These regulated and emerging risks include fruit flies, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, fall armyworm, seed- and grain-associated fungal pathogens, Drosophila suzukii, Pepper ringspot virus, Goss’s bacterial wilt, and bud rot of palms.
Swift, early detection allows regulatory authorities to make fast, informed decisions on certification, treatment, quarantine, release, or rejection. By providing localised diagnostic services near major border crossings, the lab helps ensure that regional exports like citrus and maize meet international compliance standards.
Moreover, the new Livingstone laboratory transforms Zambia’s agricultural trade by cutting testing costs and processing times by up to 50%. This enables faster export certification and improves compliance with international phytosanitary standards.
Logistically, Livingstone serves as a vital cross-border hub near key regional trade pathways, close to the Victoria Falls crossing into Zimbabwe and the Kazungula crossing into Botswana, supporting Southern Province’s main value chains including maize, citrus, and general horticulture.
TradeMark Africa played a key role by providing funding, technical expertise, and partnership coordination, while the United Kingdom provided financial backing through its development assistance programmes.
Lastly, the Livingstone project bolsters Zambia’s economic competitiveness by facilitating smoother, faster access to global markets for its agricultural products.
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