ACT, a premier network of excellence in promoting sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management for improved livelihoods and wealth creation in Africa, in light of its mandate organized and coordinated policy makers tour hosted by the Ministries of Agriculture of Zambia and Zimbabwe with other local/national (Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust; Conservation Farming Unit of Zambia; smallholder farmers; large scale commercial CA farmers; equipment manufacturers; and agricultural training colleges) and regional institutions (CIMMYT, COMESA, FAO and NEPAD).

The objective of the visit to Zambia and Zimbabwe was to increase awareness on conservation agriculture (CA) among Eastern Africa government and decision-makers, in the endeavor of Turning Conservation Agriculture Knowledge into Action in the region. Specifically the tour was intended to: Expose Policy and Decision-makers from the Ethiopian, South Sudan, Kenyan, Ugandan, and Tanzanian Governments and stakeholder organizations to Conservation Agriculture; providing a platform to share existing efforts and current developments on CA and promote increased/wider uptake CA in the region.

The tour brought together twenty three participants drawn from Directors of Departments from Ministries of Agriculture of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Others are Senior CA practitioners from NGOs, Universities, Research and Development Institutions, District Executive Directors, and the Media.