The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) has continued expanding its horizon from dealing with threats in the country’s sky to dealing with hunger felt by citizens through their agriculture ventures.
Following President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive for the defence wing to expand its agricultural production, ZAF has started offloading chickens onto the market, starting with its personnel..
ZAF commander lieutenant general Oscar Nyoni launched the poultry consignment at ZAF Headquarters, adding that the initiative is part of the military’s response to the President’s call for defence wings to actively engage in agriculture and help boost the national food basket.
Lt Gen Nyoni said personnel across the Air Force had embraced the directive and were already recording strong results in several agricultural ventures.
“We heeded the Presidential directive for the Defence Wings to actively engage in agriculture in order to contribute to the national food basket,” he said.
He explained that the Air Force was now producing crops, fish, beef and poultry, with the latest consignment of chickens being shared with personnel to appreciate their efforts and motivate them further.
“To motivate the personnel even more, we have given out some free chickens from the poultry production programme as appreciation for their effort and as a morale booster.”
He said the poultry initiative would help improve household food security for officers and their families while also strengthening morale within the service.
Lt Gen Nyoni added that personnel will have priority access to buy the chickens on flexible terms before the surplus is released onto the market.
The ZAF commander also thanked personnel for supporting the agricultural programme and said the service remained committed to welfare initiatives and national development.
He pointed to the recent sale of mealie meal by the Air Force during the Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola, done in partnership with the Food Reserve Agency, as another effort aimed at contributing to national food security.
By Haggai Hamunyemba
Kalemba March 14, 2026
