❓ Lupini Beans Contract Farming FAQs
Your questions answered about the "1 for 1" Program
One Hectare Lupini Beans for Export | One Hectare Maize for Food & Income
The "1 for 1" contract farming project is an agricultural transformation initiative led by Dios Es Grande Investment Limited in collaboration with Masarat AlKhair Trading Company (Saudi Arabia). The model empowers each participating farmer to cultivate 1 hectare of Sweet Lupini Beans for export and 1 hectare of Maize for household food security and additional income.
Lupini Beans (Export)
- High-protein, climate-smart crop targeted for premium international markets.
- Full input support: seed, fertilizer, crop protection, extension support.
- Guaranteed off-take under a 5-year export agreement with Saudi buyers.
- Crop insurance and mandatory training included.
Maize (Food & Income)
- Secures household food supply during the season.
- Any surplus may be sold at the FRA price (through the project), creating extra, predictable income.
- Complements Lupini in rotation and improves overall farm resilience.
How the model works
- Enrollment & Training: Farmers register through their Agriculture Camp and attend mandatory training for export standards, agronomy, and contract terms.
- Inputs Issued: After certification, inputs for Lupini (and designated maize support where applicable) are issued on an input loan basis.
- Production & Support: Field officers provide ongoing supervision, advisory visits, and quality checks.
- Delivery & Payment: Farmers deliver Lupini to approved buying points. The input loan is deducted from sales, and farmers are paid the net balance.
- Insurance Cover: In case of covered perils, crop insurance may settle part or all of the input loan per policy terms.
What farmers receive
- Full input package for Lupini Beans (and related support items specified by the program).
- Extension services, farm visits, and compliance guidance to meet export specs (moisture, cleanliness, grading).
- Guaranteed market access via the export contract — no need to search for buyers.
- Predictable income through agreed pricing and transparent deductions.
- Crop insurance for defined risks (per insurer terms).
Farmer responsibilities
- Attend and complete mandatory training and follow recommended agronomic practices.
- Use inputs strictly for the assigned hectares and maintain field records when requested.
- Deliver produce to approved buying points and comply with quality/traceability requirements.
- Protect crops, avoid side-selling, and communicate early if challenges arise (pests, weather, labour).
Income & food security
- Lupini Beans: Main cash earner via export. Net payment = Total Sales − Input Loan Balance.
- Maize: Secures food at home; surplus can be sold at the FRA price through the project to top up household income.
Why this matters
- Increases farmer earnings through a premium export crop.
- Improves soil (Lupini is nitrogen-fixing) and climate resilience.
- Builds national export capacity and foreign exchange earnings.
Who should join?
- Farmers registered under recognized Agriculture Camps.
- Those ready to follow export standards and comply with inspections.
- Farmers seeking both steady cashflow and household food security.
Lupini Beans are not just another crop — they are a high-value, climate-smart, and globally demanded legume. Here's why they stand out:
- Protein powerhouse: Contains up to 40% protein and high dietary fibre, making it one of the richest plant-based proteins in the world — ideal for health-conscious and vegan markets.
- Healthy & allergen-friendly: Naturally non-GMO, low in carbohydrates, gluten-free, and suitable for people with common food allergies.
- Climate smart: Highly drought-tolerant and nitrogen-fixing, which means it improves soil fertility for future crops while requiring less synthetic fertilizer.
- High market demand: Used in protein flours, plant-based meat, snacks, health supplements, and more — global buyers are actively seeking reliable suppliers.
- Export opportunity for Zambia: Positions local farmers to tap into premium markets in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
📊 Lupini Beans vs Soybeans
| Feature | Lupini Beans | Soybeans |
|---|---|---|
| Protein Content | ~38–40% | ~36% |
| Carbohydrate Content | Low (ideal for diabetic & keto diets) | Moderate |
| Drought Tolerance | High | Moderate |
| Nitrogen Fixation | Strong – improves soil for next crop | Good |
| Global Market Price | Higher – niche premium market | Standard commodity market |
| Allergen Risk | Very low | Higher (common soy allergy) |
- 5 × 20 kg Certified Lupini Seed
- 2 × 50 kg NPK Fertilizer
- 500 g Inoculant
- 25 kg Certified Maize Seed
- 4 × 50 kg NPK Fertilizer
- 4 × 50 kg Urea Fertilizer
Yes, training is 100% mandatory for all farmers joining the Lupini Beans Contract Farming Programme. It is not just a formality — it is a core requirement designed to protect your success and ensure our produce meets international export standards.
Why the training is essential:
- Export-quality production: Learn best farming practices, pest control methods, harvesting techniques, and post-harvest handling to meet buyer specifications.
- Understanding the agreement: We clearly explain your contract, loan repayment process, and your rights and responsibilities.
- Certification requirement: Attendance and participation are required to receive your Input Access Certificate, without which you cannot receive seeds, fertilizer, or other inputs.
- Risk reduction: Get training on crop insurance procedures and how to prevent avoidable losses.
- Efficient supervision: Farmers trained to the same standard make monitoring and support faster and more effective.
Training Details:
- Training Fee: K385 — Covers training materials, field manuals, refreshments, and certification costs. Subsidized to be affordable.
- Training Dates: September 2025 — exact schedule will be communicated by your local Agent or project field staff.
- Registration Deadline: 19 September 2025.
- Venue: Training will be conducted in sessions within your respective Agriculture Camp or another designated location announced by your Local Agent.
Come prepared to take notes and ask questions. The more you learn now, the better your yield and income will be.
| Crop | Yield | Price | Estimated Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lupini Beans | 2,300–3,500 kg/ha | K47/kg | K108,100 – K164,500 per ha |
| Soya Beans | 1,200–2,500 kg/ha | K10/kg | K12,000 – K25,000 per ha |
Figures are indicative and may vary by region, season, and management practices.
To qualify for the Lupini Beans Contract Farming programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Age: Between 21 and 65 years — this ensures physical ability to manage the crop and eligibility for insurance coverage.
- Identification & communication: Must hold a valid National Registration Card (NRC) and have an active mobile phone number for coordination, training alerts, and payment notifications.
- Land access: Must have access to at least 2 hectares of land. While the programme starts you on 1 hectare, this ensures space for potential expansion in future seasons.
- Farmer network: Must be registered under a recognized Agriculture Camp in your area. This supports field supervision, farmer training, and easy delivery point arrangements.
- Register: Apply online or with a local Agent by 19 September 2025.
- Attend training: Complete the mandatory 1-day session in September 2025.
- Submit loan application: Fill in and hand in the form at the end of your training day.
- Approval: We'll review your application and notify you of the outcome.
- Sign the contract: Review the terms and sign to confirm your participation.
- Collect inputs: Pick up your package from the nearest distribution center in your district.
The input loan is not paid in cash upfront. It is settled after harvest from the proceeds of your Lupini Beans when you deliver to our approved buying point.
- How it works: We deduct the outstanding input costs (e.g., seed, fertilizer and chemicals) from your sales.
- What you receive: You are paid the net amount — i.e.,
Total Sales – Input Loan Balance. - If yields are lower than expected: We only deduct up to the value of your sales. Any remaining balance is handled according to the insurance/policy terms.
- Insurance support: In the event of drought, flood or other covered perils, the crop insurance may partly or fully settle the input loan (subject to the insurer's assessment and policy terms).
For now, no. Each farmer is limited to 1 hectare of each crop. This ensures we maintain strict quality standards and provide fair access to inputs and supervision.
- Quality & traceability: Smaller plots are easier to monitor for correct agronomy, pest control and moisture targets at delivery.
- Training & support: 1 ha allows our team to give hands-on guidance and inspections across all participating farmers.
- Fair distribution: Inputs and finance are spread widely so more farmers can participate.
- Export readiness: Consistent quality across many 1 ha fields meets buyer specs more reliably.
If you're interested in expanding later, speak to your local agent. We review performance data after the season and communicate eligibility before inputs are issued for the next cycle.