Smallholder farmers contribute about 70 percent of Zambia’s food production and support over
60 percent of livelihoods. However, they face increasing climate-related risks such as droughts,
floods, pests, and livestock diseases. Existing mechanisms such as the Farmer Input Support
Programme (FISP) provide limited risk protection, focusing mainly on inputs rather than
comprehensive risk coverage. Weak insurance products, low trust, poor distribution channels, and
low financial literacy continue to constrain the development of inclusive agricultural insurance.