Declining economy in Zambia and its impact in food security

Zambia is a landlocked country located in southern central Africa and it is one of the poorest countries in the world and is considered a least developed country. Malnutrition is a chronic and difficult problem in this country. Agriculture is the main occupation and maize is the staple food. About 90% farmers of the country are smallholders, dependent on rain fed agriculture. After independence it was rich in food and could export maize but since 2002 it has to import maize every year. Literacy rate is low and women are less literate than men. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are fatal diseases in Zambia and mortality rates are among the highest in the world. The rural transportation network is largely undeveloped and communication costs are very high; foreign direct investment is also very low. The main export of the country is copper. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 49% of the Zambian population is undernourished and unable to access minimum energy requirement