When is Farmer's Day?
Farmer's Day is a public holiday in Zambia observed on the first Monday in August.
This is a day to celebrate the contribution and work of the agricultural sector in Zambia.
History of Farmer's Day
Historically the prosperity of Zambia has depended on its main export, copper.
Though the presence of copper in the region was known for many centuries, it only became a major industry under colonial rule with the construction of large mines.
Copper contributes about 65% of export earnings, which means that the economy is dependent on the price of copper.
The Zambian government decided to promote agriculture as a way to diversify the economy away from this overreliance on copper.
Agriculture contributes about 19% to Zambia's GDP and employs 75% of the population, yet Zambia has the potential for increasing its agricultural output; currently, less than 20% of its arable land is cultivated.
