MANUFACTURERS Navigating climate VALUE PROMOTING ADDITIONchange LOCAL effectsTO PRODUCTSWOODin manufacturingPRODUCTSTOGETHER

ZAMBIA’s ZAMBIAproduces land a assets lot of are high-quality diverse encom- products. passing However, arable most land, people forests, are still wildlife inclined and to wetlands. buying imported The estimated products. land area Mainly under due forest to two cover factors is about namely: 44.6 the million collapse hectares of inof Zambia’s dustry in total the land 1990s area. and the

negative Therefore, perception Zambia’s abundant towards forests local have goods the and potential services. to make a significant In 1970, for contribution instance, the to- wards manufacturing economic growth industry because ac

these dominant forests cover

counted for 15% of gross do

60% of the country’s total land

mestic product (GDP). The

area, with the main vegetation

manufacturing sector’s con

type being Miombo woodland

tribution to GDP increased

which covers 47% of 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 manuThus, has facturing the lagged, need despite sector’s to the contribuhighlight surge in

the tion demand to GDP of declined wood and to wood apeffects of climate change

products. proximately The 10% tree in 1995. species of the commercial manufacturing value in Zambia sector. are The mainly adverse The used collapse for effects timber of indusproduc- of cli- mate tion, change try meant that on Zambia electricity had

as construction material

to rely on imports to meet generation and for making were furniture outlined prod- by

consumption demand. The Finance ucts. Currently, Minister a large in import 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 made whether out of or sawdust not it tastes and wood- like the and plywood from China. paign report benefits also highlighted is being part high en imported particles, product. whilst plywood is a Secondly, the same report of lumber the efforts transportation to tell our costs own in wooden electricity As panel industry that from continued is composed hydro-power to decline since highlights 2015. Climate that MSME’s the make final story Zambia manufactured as as Zambian a major producers hindrance prod- of 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, of to value high-quality addition consequently goods and local and serutil- glued. panies’ acerbated investments the in already equipexisting ed rainfall patterns. registered Floods wood processing failing vices isation. to compete and Transportation promote favourably local costs prodare ment, Locally power skill produced deficit, and technology wood causing and to ZESCO and droughts companies, have become and they struggle to ucts approximately together. Telling $4.25 our per own kilo-

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

products can be used in produce high-quality products metre is per important ton compared as it enables with the Inadequate tioning production from of investments particle around boards cou2015. Nonetheless, agriculture re-

suitable for export. Poor product In light us $0.28 to explain of in China reduced to and the even local water less conin and pled plywood, with messages which are that main- sought design and development resources com- sumer the other because that countries. local products of poor are

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 just patterns, Therefore, as good or how even the better can expensive than 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 imported products, compared demand. reduction Particle in boards manufacturing and

products, created a perception gation are extremely on making high intermediate for tor goods grow to of the whilst distorted value-added adapting messages wood prod- and that 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 undermine the adverse the credibility effects of loof Zambian things, ty is such an products important as making are various of infecomponent Manufacturing

Zambian subsectors workers in wood pro- cal ue-added products. wood products. home in and the industrial production furniture. process and cessing plants are high- lack basic of skills climate Thus, change? whilst utilization of lo-

rior quality. like agro-processing Due to its relevance to the They is can needed also be used to to make mechanised and the competence outputs to process Firstly, cal inputs despite in the the wood Govern- and wood

Therefore, in an attempt run to ly dependent on industrialisation

significant investment and economroofing plants and flooring sheets. wood. Moreover, specific ment’s tech- processing subsector is import-

the and consumer equipment. percepMan- of agriculture for their forward

Despite change the evidence of high nical and managerial expertise ic ant development because it creates agenda employ- of

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 Zambia, ment, because the Campaign of the labour-in- has atagricultural is still need tracted to the diversify attention of sourc- many 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 local producers in the of goods country. and

processing industry, the country

of time Commerce, or reduce Trade and production Induced, the quality and price of Zambia services, needs senior to invest government more dustry and (MCTI) come established out at a loss the on both in climate officials smart as well technologies as the Head of

services. The agricultural Campaign is improducts Membership remain to the Cam

Proudly options Zambian because Campaign their which State. are less In his susceptible address to the nato

plemented costs and expensive managed by the inputs paign is into open to the all sectors of

(PZC) increase. which was Manufacturing launched in sec- agro-processing industry. Ul- climate tion change on the ‘progress such as made solar in 2018. Zambia Association of Manuthe economy including public

tor The growth Campaign has is a been govon the timately, making the price of or wind the application power. Diversifying of the national ernment project under MCTI facturers (ZAM) following the service providers. The Camvalues and principles’ delivthat aims to encourage the signing of a Memorandum of paign offers a wide range of ered to the fifth session of the production and consumption Understanding between MCTI benefits to its member comtwelfth National Assembly on of high quality local goods and and ZAM. panies. Chief among all Cam Friday, 12th February 2021,

the President sources Lungu of recognised the country’s

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

In order to boost local util- isation consuming Secondly, and value local the addition products. Government, to wood needs The President products, to regulate attributed the Zambian this water Government ciently increase in and consumption should effectively facilitate to as for a efforts investment key being input made that in will under the ensure the manufac- technology turing Proudly Zambian transfer sector for Campaign. MSME’s both directly involved and Despite indirectly. in wood the poor processing This percepis as because well there tion as on establish is Zambian an increasing policy produced mea- demand sures goods to enhance and services, value there addition. are of water by other sectors, Measures a lot of could high-quality include loans Zambifor capital to an equipment ever-increasing which could

an products The on agriculture the market. be lation. at lower or free of interest

The Campaign has over 500 rates. currently Additionally, accounts technical for as- 73%

products that have been cersistance all tified water by and the training withdrawn Zambia on Bureau how to from create ter sources specialised in wood Zambia, products making

of Standards and have met

from machinery could be ar-

it the the criteria largest set out sector by other consum-

ranged to ensure the production

ing institutions water. like The the total Zambia industrial

of high standard wood products.

water Metrology Key additional demand Agency. However, measures in 2020 is could mated the negative include to be perception reduction 474 million creof transportation metres ated and propagated approximately costs by by availing mesaffordable Industry sages that transport undermine thus infrastruc- require the ture, ventions credibility such as of rail that Zambian lines, will to timber prodensure harvest ucts continue centres and affect wood pro- the the needed water to is available. cessing consumption hubs. Lastly, of high-quality institutions

Lastly, products. the Government of local 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 change, manufactured addition. so This goods that will ensure agricultural and

that MSME’s in wood processing

output services. As is not a well-meaning affected. Having

get the much-needed technical

Zambian, support that the Camagricultural expertise considered and increase their pro- ductivity. output paign is promote an important the conin sumption the agro-processing of high Proudly try, Zambian this products. then reduces Togethcosts er, let us work to promote 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. Firstly, according to the World

The collapse of

Bank’s Light Manufacturing in Zambia industry Report meant of that 2013, equip- ment Zambia for had wood to rely processing is considerably on imports to older meet on average, in Zambia at 28 years, than in

consumption demand.

China at 3–7 years and 7–13 in

The heavy reliance

Vietnam. Older wood processing

on imports ended up

machinery is not as precise and agile changing as newer the tastes machines, of there- fore consumers cannot produce in favour wood prod- ucts of foreign of modern products. 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