The Republic of Zambia Gender in Development Division (gidd) Baseline Survey on Women’s Access to Agricultural Land in Zambia Final Research Report

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Women in Sub-Saharan Africa including Zambia, constitute the majority of people living in rural areas. They provide over 70% of all agricultural labour required especially in food production done mainly at subsistence level (WLSA, 2001 p 16). Further studies have shown that over 60% of the active populations in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on land for livelihood (ECA, 2003). Similarly in Zambia, the majority of agricultural households based in rural areas including women depend on land for their livelihoods. female-headed households. Overall, 80.8% of the rural agricultural households are male-headed. and executed through Zambia Land Alliance, focused on women's land tenure security including access to, ownership and control of agricultural land. This study was carried The districts covered in this study included Chadiza and Chipata in Eastern province, Chongwe and Kafue in Lusaka province and Choma and Gwembe in Southern province. All these districts are found in rural Zambia. Chadiza is located 637 kilometres away from the national capital, Lusaka, while Chipata is 602 kilometres, Choma is 284 kilometres away, Chongwe is 45 kilometres, Gwembe is 221 kilometres and Kafue is located 44 kilomietres away from the National capital. Refer to (Fig. 1). Except for Gwembe district, which is located in agro-ecological region, I, the rest fall in agro-ecological region II. 3 Based on Muliokela's (1995, p19-23) description Agro-ecological region I areas (Gwembe district in this case) receive less than 800mm annual rainfall and are generally considered being the driest and most prone to drought occurrences. These areas are dominated by subsistence crop production of small grains such as sorghum and pearl millet and have soils that are slightly acidic to alkaline and are mainly the loamy and clay types. With adequate rainfall such soils are reported to have potential for agricultural production. On the other hand Agro-ecological region II areas found in Eastern, Lusaka and Southern provinces receive medium annual rainfall of between 800 mm – 1000 mm. These areas are further reported to have soils that have slight to severe chemical and physical limitations although are capable of supporting commercial agriculture given proper management. Because these areas generally have good soils, they are considered most productive areas compared to other regions (i.e. Region I and III). Region II areas are characterized by a maize regime and thus, the most commercialized areas for agricultural production. Cash crops grown includ e cotton, wheat, soya beans, tobacco, beans, …