Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CATSP).

The Comprehensive Agricultural Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) is a countrywide sectoral initiative designed to tackle the obstacles impacting agriculture in Zambia. Its primary goal is to swiftly and comprehensively transform the sector, ensuring improved performance and resilience in both the agricultural sector and agri-food systems. The CATSP is fully in harmony with the Eighth National Development Plan and the Republic of Zambia Vision 2030. In alignment with these overarching frameworks, the Program aims to achieve the following objectives through heightened production and productivity (i) enhanced food security; (ii) improved nutrition; (iii) increased job opportunities; (iv) growth in agricultural exports; (v) decreased reliance on food imports; (vi) expanded opportunities for income generation and wealth creation. The realization of these goals hinges on increased private investment in the sector, contingent upon the government's implementation of appropriate and adequate policy measures. The scope of the document encompasses the crop, livestock, and fisheries sub-sectors, the trading and commerce of agriculture commodities, but also the emergency preparedness and response system, the environmental and social safeguard, the management of lands and renewable natural resources, and the security of land tenure.
The Zambian government's Strategic Plan, outlined through seven key priorities, aims to operationalize its vision for agricultural development by empowering the public sector, optimizing public expenditure, facilitating inclusive local supply chains, broadening private sector financial access, modernizing infrastructure, prioritizing research and technology investments, and advancing land tenure security and safeguards through collaboration with the private sector. The CATSP Programmatic framework is a comprehensive initiative organized into seven Sub-Programs (SP), each addressing specific focus areas such as Institutional Development, Financial and Risk Sharing Facilities, Agriculture Marketing, Trade, and Industry, Agriculture Research and Production Support, Infrastructure Development, Emergency Preparedness & Response Mechanisms, Nutrition, and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. Within each Sub-Program, specific Investment Areas (IA) are defined, with a cluster of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for implementing a set of Policy Implementation Instruments. This structured approach aims to efficiently achieve tangible outcomes across various domains, including institutional development, financial innovation, agriculture, research, infrastructure, emergency response, nutrition, and sustainable natural resource management.