MANUFACTURERS Navigating climate VALUE PROMOTING ADDITIONchange LOCAL effectsTO PRODUCTSWOODin manufacturingPRODUCTSTOGETHER

ZAMBIA’s ZAMBIAland assets are diverse encom- passing arable land, forests, wildlife and wetlands. The estimated land area under forest cover is about 44.6 million hectares of Zambia’s total land area.

Therefore, Zambia’s abundant forests have the potential to make a significant contribution to- wards In economic 1970, for growth instance, because the these manufacturing dominant industry forests cover ac60% counted of the for country’s 15% of gross total doland area, mestic with product the main (GDP). vegetation The type manufacturing being Miombo sector’s woodland conwhich tribution covers to 47% GDP of increased the coun- try’s rapidly land area. reaching Theoretically, its peak in the forest 1992 resources at 36.1%. However, in Zambia due are sufficient to reasons to satisfy not covered the country’s by domestic this article, demand Zambia of wood decidand wood ed to products, shift from even a command after 20 years economy of sustained to a growth free-market in de- hoods mand economy and of wood. other and liberalised sectors, its the effects trade However, of in climate 1994. local The value domestic variation addition

the to industry manufacturing wood, which collapsed among almost sector other have things often immediately involves gone and wood unnoticed. the processing manu

has lagged, despite the surge in

Thus, facturing the need sector’s to contribuhighlight

the demand of wood and wood

effects tion to of GDP climate declined change to ap

products. The tree species of the commercial proximately manufacturing value 10% in in Zambia 1995. sector. are The mainly adverse The used collapse for effects timber of indusproduc- of cli- mate tion, change try meant as construction that on Zambia electricity material had generation and to for rely making were on imports furniture outlined to meet prod- by Finance ucts. consumption Currently, Minister demand. a large in import The the

heavy reliance value on added imports wood 2021 National demand for Budget Speech.

products ended up exists changing in Zambia, the tastes and

Electricity of consumers deficit in favour became of

this can be seen from the imports

more pronounced foreign products. in Subse2015–

of particle boards and plywood in 2016 2020, when quently, which it reduced emerged stood at about that rainfall unK 58

million devastating less a and product K 36 tastes million, effects like respec- the on river flows tively. imported Particle in Zambia, product boards are that leading usually the historical local consumers low water are accuslev- in the tomed Kariba to, it was Dam, deemed which of stood at inferior 12% quality. of capacity Therefore, in January the 2016. basis for With a quality Zambia prodgenerating uct among about the local 85% consumof its ers is not whether or not a product meets the standards criteria set by the Zambia Bureau of Standards, but

produces a lot of high-quality products. However, most people are still inclined to buying imported products. Mainly due to two factors namely: the collapse of industry in the 1990s and the negative perception towards local goods and services.

made whether out of or sawdust not it tastes and like wood- the and plywood from China. story report as also Zambian highlighted producers high en imported particles, product. whilst plywood is a Secondly, the same report of lumber high-quality transportation goods and costs serin wooden electricity As industry panel that continued from is composed hydro-power to decline since highlights 2015. Climate that MSME’s the make final vices Zambia manufactured and as promote a major local hindrance prod- prodof collapse, stations, thin cross-bonded so did lack the local of veneers water comhas ex- change has notably up approximately affect- 95% of ucts the expensive, ucts to value together. addition consequently Telling and our local own util- glued. panies’ acerbated investments the in already equipexisting ed rainfall patterns. registered Floods wood processing failing story isation. to compete is important Transportation favourably as it enables costs are ment, Locally power skill produced deficit, and technology wood causing and to ZESCO and droughts companies, have become and they struggle to us approximately to explain to $4.25 the local per conkilo-

with imported goods. its produce by to effect high-quality severe products. electricity ra- more pronounced in Zambia. sumer

products can be used in produce high-quality products metre that per ton local compared products with are the Inadequate tioning production from investments of particle around boards cou2015. Nonetheless, agriculture re-

suitable for export. Poor product In light just $0.28 as good of in China reduced or even and better even water less than in and pled plywood, with messages which that are main- sought design and development resources com- imported the other because countries. products, of compared poor

Power deficits have been mains mainly rainfed in Zam- ly to on undermine demand in consumer the domestic confipound the problem, as there rainfall are to patterns, Therefore, the distorted how the messages can expensive that the market, one as of seen the by the major import causes of bia as costs of no setting design up schools irri- which Zambian focus landed manufacturing wood increases the sec- cost

dence in the credibility of local undermine the credibility of lo

reduction Particle created in boards a perception manufacturing and gation are extremely on making high intermediate for tor goods grow cal of the products. whilst value-added adapting wood prod- and demand. products, plywood production are used for because a number electrici- from wood. to afford. Therefore, most ucts, compared to imported val-

among local consumers that small scale farmers

mitigating Due the to its adverse relevance effects to the of Zambian things, ty is such an products important as making are various of infecomponent Manufacturing

Zambian subsectors workers in wood pro- industrialisation ue-added wood products.

of climate change? and economic home rior in quality. and the industrial production furniture. process and like agro-processing development agenda of Zam

cessing plants are high- lack basic skills Thus, whilst utilization of lo- They is can needed also be used to run to make mechanised and the competence outputs to process Firstly, cal inputs despite in the the wood Govern- and wood

Therefore, in an attempt to ly dependent on bia,

significant the Campaign investment has attracted roofing plants and and flooring sheets. wood. Moreover, specific ment’s tech- processing subsector is import-

consumer equipment. percepMan- of agriculture for their forward

Despite change the evidence of high nical and managerial expertise the ant attention because of it many creates local employ- pro

in hydro-power is stations, there domestic tion ufacturers towards demand locally have and produced abun- had to either and backward linkages. Yet

missing therefore affecting their ducers ment, because of goods of and the labour-in- services, agricultural is still need senior government to diversify officials sourc- as dant goods invest raw and materials, in services, alternative the the country Govsources because productivity. output tensive nature of the wood has ernment of experienced electricity through hurdles the to Ministry in cover the down- has not efficiently Lastly, been the World pro- Bank’s es 2013 of energy well as the in Head the of State. country. In his

processing industry, the country

of time Commerce, or reduce Trade and production Induced, the quality and price of Zambia address needs to to the invest nation on more the dustry and (MCTI) come established out at a loss the on services. both The agricultural Campaign is improducts paign is open remain to all sectors in climate of ‘progress smart made technologies in the applicaProudly options Zambian because Campaign their plemented costs and expensive managed by the inputs the economy into including the public which tion are of less the national susceptible values and to (PZC) increase. which was Manufacturing launched in Zambia sec- Association agro-processing of Manuservice industry. providers. Ul- The climate Camprinciples’ change delivered such to as the solar fifth 2018. tor The growth Campaign has is a been govon facturers the (ZAM) timately, following making the paign the offers price a wide of range or of wind session power. of the twelfth Diversifying National ernment project under MCTI signing of a Memorandum of benefits to its member comAssembly on Friday, 12th Febthat aims to encourage the Understanding between MCTI panies. Chief among all Camruary 2021, President Lungu production and consumption and ZAM. paign benefits is being part recognised the impact of the of high quality local goods and Membership of the efforts to tell our own Proudly Zambian Campaign. to the

Cam

the sources of the country’s

is not adding much value to its forest energy The resources. Head generation of Value State addition echoed will ensure to a that the more wood he was stable raw encouraged materials energy would to pool spur will see economic that reduce more growth of overdependence Zambian as the final on products products hydro-power were or being intermediate sold generation in products which shops and produced gets that affected more can be people pack- by low aged ter were for levels. consuming export. local products. In order The President to boost local attribututil-

Secondly, the Government, isation ed this and increase value in addition consumpto wood needs tion products, to efforts to regulate the being Zambian made water Government ciently under the and Proudly should effectively Zambian facilitate as for a Campaign. investment key input that in will the ensure manufac- technology turing Despite transfer sector the poor for percepMSME’s both directly involved and tion on indirectly. in Zambian wood processing produced This is as because

well as establish policy mea-

there goods and is an services, increasing there are demand

sures to enhance value addition.

of a lot water of high-quality by other Zambisectors,

Measures could include loans for capital to an products an equipment ever-increasing on the which market. could be lation. The at lower Campaign The or free has agriculture of over interest 500 rates. currently products Additionally, that accounts have technical been cerfor as- 73% sistance all tified water by and the training withdrawn Zambia on Bureau how to from create ter of Standards sources specialised and in wood Zambia, have products met making from the criteria machinery set out could by other be ar-

it the largest sector consum- ranged institutions to ensure like the the production Zambia

ing Metrology water. Agency. The However, total industrial

of high standard wood products.

water the Key negative additional demand perception measures in 2020 creis could mated ated and include to propagated be reduction 474 by million mesof transportation metres sages that approximately undermine costs by availing the affordable Industry credibility transport of thus Zambian infrastruc- require prodture, ventions ucts such continue as rail that lines, to affect will to timber ensure the

harvest centres and wood pro-

the consumption needed of water high-quality is available.

cessing hubs. Lastly, institutions

local Lastly, products. the Government

of higher learning with schools of needs natural The resources to Proudly invest can Zambian more develop in short gation Campaign, courses and on therefore, product adaptation devel- now opment sures seeks and to in improve design, the for agriculture consumer MSME’s involved tor, perception as in wood a response towards processing locally and to climate value manufactured addition. This goods will ensure and change, so that agricultural that services. MSME’s As in a wood well-meaning processing

output Zambian, is support not affected. the CamHaving

get the much-needed technical expertise considered paign and promote increase that their the conagricultural pro- ductivity. output sumption is of an high important Proudly in Zambian the agro-processing products. Togethtry, er, let this us work then to reduces promote costs inputs Zambian made into products. manufacturing because Therefore, do supply not be is left then out not fected. and, join efforts to support

Proudly Zambian products.

Promote local, choose local and buy local. Think Local

First!

utilization of local wood in the production of products such as particle boards and plywood.

The collapse of

Firstly, according to the World Bank’s industry Light meant Manufacturing that in Zambia Zambia Report had to rely of 2013, equip- ment on imports for wood to meet processing is considerably older on average,

consumption demand.

in Zambia at 28 years, than in

The heavy reliance

China at 3–7 years and 7–13 in

on imports ended up

Vietnam. Older wood processing machinery changing the is not tastes as precise of and agile consumers as newer in favour machines, there- fore of foreign cannot products. produce wood prod- ucts of modern standards. Most manufacturers of furniture, who are Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME’s), therefore resort to importing boards from processed wood products such as particle boards