Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC) 2022 Annual Household Survey

Project Background

The Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC) initiative, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and supported by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to boost agricultural productivity, improve household incomes, and enhance food security in Zambia. The initiative focuses on smallholder farmers in the soybean, groundnut, and dairy value chains in the Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia​. M31 Research was contracted to conduct the 2022 Annual Household Survey, evaluating key performance indicators such as productivity, income, and innovation adoption rates among participating farmers. The findings are critical for tracking the project’s impact, informing future decision-making, and refining implementation strategies​

Survey Methodology

The survey employed a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs). Data collection targeted farmers across the soybean, groundnut, and dairy value chains to measure the following key indicators:

• Productivity (t/ha for legumes, l/cow for dairy)
• Gross margins (ZMW/ha for legumes, ZMW/cow for dairy)
• Adoption rates of promoted agricultural innovations

A sample of 890 farmers was drawn from over 140,000 trained farmers, ensuring a robust representation of both regions​. The data collection tools were implemented using SurveySolutions, enabling real-time data capture and validation​.

Fieldwork

M31 Research deployed two field teams, each led by experienced supervisors and supported by enumerators and quality controllers. Enumerators underwent intensive five-day training sessions covering data collection ethics, interviewing techniques, and digital tool usage. The fieldwork spanned 22 days, with data collection distributed across selected districts in Eastern and Southern Zambia. Teams navigated logistical challenges such as farmer availability during peak agricultural seasons, climate-related disruptions, and local cultural practices.

Despite these challenges, the teams successfully conducted:

• 837 household surveys
• 24 focus group discussions
• 72 key informant interviews

Real-time quality assurance measures, including daily high-frequency checks and supervisor spot checks, ensured the reliability and accuracy of the data​.

Survey Results

The 2022 GIC Annual Household Survey highlighted significant progress in both the legume and dairy value chains through the adoption of innovative agricultural practices such as conservation farming, agroforestry, farm hygiene, and climate-smart breeding. Despite these advancements, farmers in both value chains faced persistent challenges, including climate shocks, limited access to quality inputs, and financial resource constraints. Dairy farmers demonstrated better overall resilience and food security outcomes compared to legume farmers, underscoring the importance of continued investment in training, cooperative models, and access to financial services to sustain and scale these improvements.

Oveall Outcome

The 2022 Annual Household Survey demonstrated significant progress in adopting agricultural innovations across the soybean, groundnut, and dairy value chains. Farmers who adopted innovations such as conservation farming, climate-smart feeding, and herd health plans reported higher productivity and income levels. Key lessons from the survey include the effectiveness of cooperatives in improving farmer access to markets and resources, the importance of continued farmer training, and the need for targeted investments in high-impact innovations​.