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2025 Policy Prioritisation through Value Chain (PPVC) Analysis Beef Deep Dive Policy Brief

From Herd to Hub: Transforming Zambia’s Beef Sector into a Regional Powerhouse.

Smallholder farmers in Zambia own approximately 80% of the country’s estimated 4.7 million cattle herd. As urban populations and incomes rise, beef consumption has increased by 43% over the past decade, climbing from 85.8 thousand tons in 2014 to 122.6 thousand tons in 2024. Although production has grown to meet local demand, it has been insufficient
to expand to regional export markets. The sector faces significant challenges, including limited access to inputs, inadequate biosecurity measures, deficient infrastructure, and gaps in the regulatory environment. The sector requires transformation, based on competitiveness and resilience building, to sustain growth momentum and deliver benefits to value chain actors.