close look at the various crop seed in the Ministry of Agriculture
stand at the Copperbelt Mining, Agriculture and Commercial Show in
Kitwe
Government says it wants to use the Agriculture sector to grow the country’s economy by strategically investing in the sector.
Speaking during the launch of the Investment Support Fund (ISF) of the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP), Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa said government was not talking but instead was putting “money were the mouth is” by investing strategically in the Agriculture sector as the sector has massive potential to move the country forward economically.
“As government we put agriculture high up on our agenda as one sector we see and want to use to push our country forward, to push our economy forward.
“And one thing is encouraging is the fact that when you put your money were your mouth is that shows how serious you are about a particular agenda and it has been consistent I think you notice as government we have not only been talking in terms of prioritizing agriculture but we want to put our money were our mouth just to show how serious we are,” Mr. Simuusa said.
Mr. Simuusa explained that as a commitment to improving agriculture sector in the country government secured the Support Fund, a loan of more than US $115million agreement between government and the World Bank which is meant to support irrigation farming in the country.
“The fund intends to archive two key objectives: the first is to enable small, medium and large scale commercial and public farmers access conditional co-financing grants for investment capital necessary for on-farm equipment and assets in already identified areas with high potential for irrigation as well as expansion of existing irrigated land,” he said.
The fund will be accessible to among other groups- the needy in society such as female headed households and HIV/AIDS affected house holds.
He added: “the second is to enhance generation of agro-economic activities by complementing provision of irrigation bulk-water infrastructure in sub-project areas where irrigation schemes are already ear marked for development in order to ensure the creation of employment and alleviation of rural poverty.”
And speaking at the same function world bank country representative Kundhavi Kadiresan said the fund brings together the public and the private sector as well as build a relationship between small scale and large scale farmers.
She noted that the project has incooperated number of lessons from other countries were the project was successfully implemented which the farmers will benefit from.
Its unfortunate that at 50 years,we are still struggling to make Agriculture a huge economic contributor.I think the closest we have gotten,was in the LPM error.Where is the major issue?
But these PF ministers gets on my nerves. Everyone knows what Simuusa is barking, the PF need just to do it.
When the HH party get into power that’s the only thing they will be good at Agro-business, not thuggery.
Are you kidding me? Whatever so called ‘priority’ that your PF government has assigned to agriculture is mere child’s play. There is no industry as viable to transform the lives of Zambians on a larger and broader scale as is agriculture. It creates more jobs unlike any other. Look at how agriculture has transformed Ethiopia over-night! Your vision of it, if at all there, is still too small.
You know Wilbur if I were you I would ask you to call me and I would give you HH’s number. If you are serious about agriculture this is the guy you need to talk to. As HH how he has been able to have 90,000 herds of cows from just one. As him how we can utilize the land in Northern and Luapula Provinces. Ask him about how to grow cash crops. Ask him how to grow and manage draught resistant crops. Ask him about marketing agric goods. Ask him about other industries that will grow as a result of Agric. Ok never mind because I know you are going to pay consultants from Israel or Saudi Arabia to come and teach you this.
What do wanzelu, nastrofimofimo, and other Mabisi lovers see in this hh. It will be a tall order to dislodge the PF in 2016, going the infrastructure development taking place. Genuine PF haters have come to appreciate the party except those expecting jobs if God forbid hh came to power.
Interesting what infrastructure you people keep going on about. Indeed there has been some universities under construction in certain provinces and roads (re-surfacing). Tell me which new road PF has constructed? Of course there has been some funding for on-going projects like hydro plant extension. WHat has happened to the Agriculture loans sitting idle which could have gone into building dams and support for irrigation projects. If this govt had foresight, as a none oil producing country, why not open up sugar cane plantations in North and Luapula provinces for bio-fuel. That would cut down on the oil bill. Take a leaf from Brazil. The rhetoric of Agriculture is now like a broken record which keeps repeating itself but no action/tangible bits are being implemented. No will from govt
How possible is it for agriculture to succeed in this country with the high prices of electricity, fuel, seeds and fertilizers, the government should step in and subsidise agriculture for it to be a success and then they can control the prices.
Agriculture can and is boosting the economy but can do more if we have state run farms and grab back all land owned by exploitative firms like Zambeef, Zambia sugar, Sable farms and a host of other imperialist/ capitalist minded companies that are bringing absolutely no value to Zambia and instead are milking the nation’s resources in broad daylight. What have these rich farmers done for Zambia be they white or black absolutely nothing except enrich themselves and pay very little in taxes, no enough of this nonsense they should not be kicked out, yes even zambian farmers that are making millions but not paying their workers well like Chimsoro’s dictator Chilala.there are so many millionaire farmers in Mkushi but look at the state of that district same applies with Chisamba home of…
ctn..Chisamba home of Zambeef HH’s business cohorts and the biggest exploiters this country has ever had (fact). If we are to boost agriculture lets have state run farms in all of the provinces with agriculture training colleges attached to each, let the farms be run as independent entities similar to the way ZCCM was run. Each state farm should have a farm manager with commercial farming experience, marketing of the produce should be done with little or no govt interference, in addition to this other farming blocks should be identified and divided into smaller units of 50 hectares for all Zambians that want to farm. lastly no more selling of land to foreigners (can we go and buy land in their useless countries..no, so why should be be selling land at give away prices to these swines??