The 97th Agricultural and Commercial Show in Zambia, held in Lusaka, brought together farmers, agribusinesses, innovators, and community groups from across the country to showcase their contributions to national development, food security, and climate resilience. As the country’s premier agricultural event, the show highlights not just commercial achievements but also the vital role of grassroots initiatives in shaping Zambia’s agricultural future.
This year’s participation by the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) Zambia marked a milestone for the organisation. For the first time, the national chapter exhibited at the show, shining a spotlight on the voices and innovations of rural women. RWA’s presence was significant as it brought attention to the seed-saving journeys and climate-smart practices of women farmers, and also advocated for women’s inclusion, recognition, and leadership in the agricultural sector. RWA Zambia’s involvement sent a powerful message about the central role of rural women in achieving food sovereignty, preserving indigenous knowledge, and building resilience to climate change.
In this interview, Mary Sakala, Chairperson of RWA Zambia, reflects on the experience, the key messages shared, and why amplifying rural women’s voices matters now more than ever.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about the Rural Women’s Assembly Zambia?
Mary Sakala: My name is Mary Sakala, and I am the chairperson of Rural Women’s Assembly Zambia. Rural Women’s Assembly Zambia is a network of rural women, organised by rural women and run by rural women themselves. We are here at the 97th show held in Lusaka district, Zambia.
What is the main purpose of your participation in this year’s show?
Mary Sakala: We are here to showcase our seed journey exhibition. This exhibition features photos of women who are seed savers along with their messages. Today marks the seventh day of our participation. We also have a team of women from Chongwe who are exhibiting small livestock, such as chickens and goats.
What key message are you sharing with the public at the show?
Mary Sakala: We want to tell the world that climate change is real. If we want to adapt to climate change, we need to engage in climate-resilient activities. Our approach to the theme “adapting to climate change” focuses on several pillars: engagement, innovation, diversity, water management, inclusion, environmental stewardship, and recognition.
Could you elaborate on these pillars and how they relate to your work?
Mary Sakala: Of course. Engagement means following and advocating for policies that support climate action. For women, access to information is very important because it helps us decide, for example, whether to plant early- or late-maturing crops.
Innovation is about adopting new practices in agriculture and agroecology, like making our own manure, maintaining healthy soils, and using techniques like mulching, crop rotation, and integration. We also avoid monoculture; as rural women, we aim to diversify crops and foods for our food sovereignty.
Water management is another focus. We discuss how to handle heavy rains—how to slow, sink, and spread water using different techniques to make the most of rainfall.
Inclusion is crucial. Women must be included in policymaking because we know what is best for our communities. We also stress environmental stewardship, encouraging women to plant trees, especially fruit trees, for sustainability.
Lastly, recognition is key. Women are the seed and food guardians. The seed savers you see in our exhibition have preserved seeds for generations, and they have messages to share about this important work
How has your participation been received at the show?
Mary Sakala: It has been very positive. We won the second prize at the show under the seed category, while one of our districts won the first prize for indigenous chickens and goats. This is the first time the national chapter is exhibiting at the show, so we are proud to have made such an impact and to have been recognised for our efforts.
Any final message?
Mary Sakala: We are here to show that rural women are the backbone of food sovereignty and climate resilience. Thank you so much.
