World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Overview

Zambia is ranked 164th of 187 on the Human Development Index and was recently reclassified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank. Poverty and food insecurity are widespread in both rural and urban areas, and the country remains extremely vulnerable to recurring natural disasters, including floods, drought and animal disease.

Food production levels vary widely from year to year. Food security is fragile because subsistence farmers depend on rainfall and traditional hoe cultivation. Even in years of national food surplus, many subsistence farmers struggle to make ends meet.