On the sidelines of the RAENS Annual Meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia, the Permanent Secretary Technical at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. John Mulongoti, received a courtesy call from a CCARDESA delegation. The delegation was led by Dr. Ndashe Kapulu, Director of the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute. The engagement reflected ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in agricultural research and development. It also highlighted Zambia’s role in hosting strategic platforms that advance evidence based agriculture. The meeting created space for open dialogue between policymakers and research leaders.
The CCARDESA delegation included Dr. Bridget Kakuwa-Kasongamulilo, who represented the CCARDESA Executive Director, Prof. Cliff Dlamini. Also present was Dr. Patrick Chikoti, Assistant Director at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute. Prof. Thomson Kalinda, Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Zambia and a CCARDESA Board Member, was formally introduced to the Ministry during the meeting. This introduction strengthened institutional linkages between academia and government. It also reinforced the value of inclusive leadership in agricultural research governance.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the contributions of CCARDESA supported projects in Zambia. Participants reflected on how these initiatives have enhanced research capacity and improved knowledge sharing across the agricultural sector. The meeting also explored opportunities for strengthening future collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and CCARDESA. Special attention was given to the role of extension services in ensuring research reaches farmers. Digital communication was highlighted as a key tool for scaling impact and supporting modern agricultural development in Zambia.