The Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources has embarked on a programme to promote rubber plantations in Luapula province.
The Ministry will soon mount an awareness campaign to sensitize people on the economic value of rubber production. Measures are also being worked out to encourage establishment of out-grower schemes with the participation of the private sector.
Two rubber plantations have so far been established in Kawambwa and Nchelenge districts under the investment promotion rubber project, targeting to plant 300 hectares of rubber per year. More than K500 million has so far been committed to the project which aims at ensuring that, apart from over coming poverty, Zambia becomes self-sufficient in rubber and rubber product production.
The project which is being spearheaded by the Forestry Department has cheered Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Catherine Namugala. Ms Namugala is confident that, given the value of rubber, Zambia’s economy will be bolstered if the industry is effectively promoted.
Ms Namugala says her Ministry will ensure that mass awareness on the value of venturing into rubber production, was raised and the necessary enabling environment created to attract investors into the industry.
Speaking when she addressed Directors in her Ministry, Ms Namugala also urged the Forestry department to encourage tree planting rather than degazetting of forests for human settlement.
The Minister noted that de-gazetting of forests would result in loss of biodiversity which would affect the environment negatively. She said the planned re-introduction of Forest Guards would go a long way in ensuring the protection of forests in the country.
The Minister said there was also need to aggressively promote bee-keeping among communities, noting honey production also had great potential to contribute to economic empowerment of people and help alleviate poverty.
Meanwhile, Ms Namugla has lamented the low annual budgetary allocation of K51 billion to her Ministry. The Minister noted the sum of money given to her Ministry was not enough.
She said the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources was of great economic significance to the country and thus required more resources to fulfill its obligation of contributing to the nation’s revenue base. She said the Ministry had the potential to create wealth and improve the livelihood of people in the country.
Ms Namugala who was flanked by Deputy Minister for Tourism Moses Mwangala and Permanent Secretary Mukuka Zimba, commended management for cultivating a good working relationship with cooperating partners. The Minister stressed the need for team work to ensure that the Ministry forged ahead in contributing to the economic development of the country.
ENDS/BN/AM/ZANIS
Number 1
Careful 🙂
Degazetting forests is a very bad idea, they are one of our most valuable resources and should be protected
I agree with Ms Namugala
Can someone please advise Sata to retire from politics and start working on his farm please. The man is environmenetally unfriendly and politically infectious.
What does Sata have to do with this, people are obsessed
The environment is our greatest asset and conserving our environment should be one of our top priorities. Money does come and go but you need a sustainable environment to live enjoy a comfortable life. So degazetting our forsts is a very bad idea in my view. For every tree that one cuts we must plant two elsewhere. Go green but don’t go to extremes.
Luapula is one of the provinces in Zambia with good rainfall. Lets develop it for agric; sugar, palm, banana and rubber plantation. Moreover, it has very good weather for fruits; who knows we can start supplying apples/oranges to the neighboring countries. and before we even start talking about new investments, why not rekindle Munushi Banana and Kawambwa tea plantation.
#6, I thought whoever posted that comment on Sata loves him so much that he cannot spare a moment without thinking about him. His idea though is quite wise – I would have advised Sata to retire from politics in 2006.
Viva Luapula Province.
Ci namba 5 is insane. I concur with # 6. This has nothing to do with Sata. You must be an MMD crook.
Zambia is a sleeping giant. We need to learn from countries with small areas like Israel. Israel is 2.6 % the size of Zambia. The country has an area of 20,000sq km. Arable land is only 20% of the country. This gives you 400,000ha. In 1999 Israel exported more than $25 billion worth of agricultural produce.
#12, I totally agree with u Zambia is a sleeping giant. Now that we have elected a sleeping president, God know what will happen to this sleeping giant
#13. It is not RB who will develop Zambia. All of us Zambians should contribute to the development of our country. RB is there to spearhed development.
#13. It is not RB who will develop Zambia. All of us Zambians should contribute to the development of our country. RB is there to spearhead development. We need to exploit the potentials of our country.
Don’t worry brothers, I’m really working and studying hard out here, things are going really good for me and if nothing bad happens to me, one day I’m going to make you proud to be Zambians. Trust me and pray for me if you can. god bless.
#13, don’t underrate other people. RB may surprise you in that his style may not be what you expect but he may turn out to be more effective than the talking presidents like Chiluba and Sata. Akummawa are wise and talk less. An effective president gets things done and does not want to be seen to be doing. Let him get to business and you will see polcy measures being implemented.
#5 and 9,your heads are full of water.why are you talking against Sata here?is this article about Sata.you wil remain Stagnant in your lives you wont be as comfortable as Sata in your lives. The man is intelligent no wonder he has influnced the educated and the ilitarate.Come 2011 i wil stil vote for Sata. If you dont want to hear somethng that wil make you regret having attacked Sata from me leave him alone.Poverty mentality.
Where is this crook getting the courge to comment on national issues? Can someone advise him to shut it tight please!!!!
‘Meanwhile former president Chuliba says that both civil servants and political appointees need good salaries because they have financial obligations to meet.
He said during his tenure as president, constitutional office holders were given pay rises and there were no debates so he wonders why there was so much commotion this time.
He said constitutional office holders should get the apay rise.’
#18, its democracy my friend. Vote for Sata and we shall vote for others and we will see who wins in the end. Sata WILL NEVER be presidnt of Zambia!!!!
Good move for Zambia and Luapulans. Together, YES WE ALL SHALL IN 2011.
Meanwhile:
“The Catholic Church wants Sunday observance enshrined in EU law. The European Parliament is debating changes to its Working Time Directive. The Vatican wants a clause in this law that would force every citizen in the European Union to rest on Sunday…. The enforcement of Sunday worship will be the mark of a powerful, Vatican-allied, European superpower.For more information, see our article “The Pope Trumpets Sunday””
Source: w w w.thetrumpet.c o m/ index. ph p ? q = 5676.4031.0.0
Have a nice day you all. Read Daniel 7 and 2 Thessalonians 2 in the Holy Bible, if you have time.
Inga ba ku Luapula bena, baku la panga fye ubulimbo. Nalibeshiba ine.
# 15 , its all about leadership. Hitler came into power when Germany economy was so bad, but he was able change, such that he become so confident he can control the world. Look at Bush, when came in, the USA economy was doing fine (Clinton’s achievement), after 8 years of mismanagement, am sure being in USA u know very well what is going on. Leadership play very cardinal role in overrall performance of the country. Yes, we dont expect govt to do everything, but we expect good policies from them, for us to do business well and other things. Simple example, FTJ just reduce the DUTY on buses, the transport problem was sorted out. it was not govt which bought more buses, but common man.
Namugala,that sounds great.I hope you wil be serious with these projects,its unfortunaty that despite Zambia having ubundant water,we havent had a boom in agriculture.Its high time we tried diversification.This country has potential to become one of africa,s best economies.But the problem has been with our leaders,poor policies and diverting money into their pockets.Those plantations wil lead to creation of employment among the People of Luapula province.Namugala we dont want rhetoric we want implementation. What about oil in Northwestern and the oil from grass by KK in eastern province. Ala pa Z wafya these politicians can even promise you,that they wil be bringing rains!! Ba KK oil frm grass! Stil remember although i was a little boy.
#16. Zulu 83, noted and will pray for you. I am also trying to put Zambia on the map since I am performing ground-breaking as the first and only Zambian here.
I hope one day we will launch our very own Spacecraft.
On #15’s comment, I like it very much. All of us meed to contribute to the development of Zambia like the sacrifice that most Citizens did in seeing to it that The University of Zambia was built and ultimately started operating. President RB Banda is only their to provide leadership which managers must maange the country resources as the rest of us work hard to change our environment and current stand-point as a Nation.
YES, TOGETHER we all Shall in 2011.
Am just wondering if rubber production is the major project Zambia should be doing? Are we not going to use land, water, energy just to produce cheap raw materials for industralised countries? Do we have the technology to transform raw rubber into finished goods or we will be exporting raw rubber and import for example expensive tyres from outside? In my view such land should be used to produce food like, bananas, sugarcane, maize etc which local people can consume “raw” as well as export as finished products like sugar or mealie meal.
Its about time we had such in Luapula.
Bee keeping! ha ha ha
Well one needs to look into this industry.
I had a thought one time I was driving to Ndola and on my way after kabwe I saw alot of Vigubu with honey in them. The only thing I saw was a need to improve was the packaging. If a company would come up and buy their honey and just do the packaging these locals could have money in their pockets.
In a surprise turn of events, outspoken Munali Member of Parliament Mumbi Phiri, has u-turned and claims she voted in favor of the bill in support of the 15 percent Salary hike for Constitutional office bearers by accident.
How possible?
# 20,Tumwebe. Shut your beak, are you God to say Sata wil never be President?
the sad part is that there’s no follow on there kind of projects. They are many good projects that the Chiluba’s administration started which LPM failed to complete and there’s many projects that KK started which Chiluba failed to complete. We just keep on failing and failing and even this project is just another waste of money.
It is not as easy as you say #27. We have honey from Zambia here in TESCO (ZCBC for those in Zed or Shoprite). Our locals are exploited but at least they have hope through the night as the plan to get the honey at dawn.
are u sure #31
Chewe! You are a true northener! We need as cyber-cadres, to sort out ALL our enemies who demean our SATA! Matworld,dont let that weasal, maestro scare you! Hes just a one nite stand! Hangandu, your bloggin is great, we need such fine heads in Luapula? You r a good “tonga” like magande
#31,sarah i luv you so much.
#17, I wait and see , what a retired farmer will do.
Hey,#33 wafwa napanga.whr have you been missing you.Am so glad today,i was badly msng you.You are also on the trip to Tanzania.We wil be travelling to Tanzania to save the lives of albinos,they are been killed on the pretex that,some of their body parts can be used for people to get rich.So we have declared war against witchdoctors in Tanzania.So on the list of those who wil go we have:Undertaker,Nafwa napanga, Wewewe,Sonny Errick sonny, ako Kanono ba Nevers,Luapula Fish,Anonymous, pumpy and Matword.So be ready!
Sarah! Sarah!
You even the courage to show your face here after your stint with Bwalya.
Because you always think that everything is difficult, why don’t ya and me have a go at opening a honey processing factory/company.
Lets give it a go and if it fails we can say at least we tried.
What do you say sala.
#30. Anonymous, impressive data there, but let us not be pessimistic all or most of the time. Let us just do it better this time around for this is why we have that experience of failing in the past to help us do better now and in the future.
#33. Wafwa na panga, you wrote ‘Matworld,dont let that weasal, maestro scare you!’ I really appreciate your comment but please understand that I am not here to intimidate or scare anyone. I am for “One Zambia, One Nation” and so re-consider re-writting your text which sounds offensive on me. I have already forgiven you for it and have a blessed day.
#37. Lord of the Flies, sala kahle for I am leaving now for other better activities.
You people on this blog be carefull with Maestro Hhehehehe.That man is dangerous, i have also been following his comments.Dont read or respond to his comments.
#38,Maestro Hhehehehe.we wil just send you to join the rebel leader Kunda in Congo DR,thats wr you fit nicely!
#39 Maestro
Hiya!
which better activities?
assignments eh.
Are you doing your PHD or Masters and in which field? You can choose which Q to answer.
What is the latest of the Saudi tanker in Somaliland
#38,Maestro Hhehehehe,we wil just send you to join the rebel leader Lauren Nkunda in Congo DR,thats wr you fit!
Hello everyone including those who didnt wish me a happy birthday. I ve had a blessed day, hope you did too.
Happy birthday Pumpy
Chewe where are you based? Is the lunatic who attacked us yesterday blogging today
Chewe
thats a gud one
He can do better as commander in chief
#chewe! Is that whats happenin in TZ? Am all game, lets show those ngangas’ how to dance with pangas! Kangwa is scared of Maestro! Mwaiche maestro should not hypnotize you, you are a fine bemba seed, maestro quotes the KORAN hes a mujahedin, hes not zambian. Let the Legionáire prepare for tanganika! Witches here we come!
Namugala do something for my Luapula people. These guys are lazy, they are in the rain belt but are so lazy to do farming only runing to the copperbelt for underground work labouring for the chinese. This province is suppose to be the food busket of Zambia. Please Namugala can you introduce farming also since you are from the North where you produce a lot of food, maybe those guys will wake up. Fish is also finishing in lakes and we are just lazing in sundy beaches which are suppose to attract tourism. My people let us wake up, I love that province.
Mes ami did i mis something? Was it a Taliban attack? Lets call maestro, mujahedin,even better,the fark rebel, no, fode sanko! What do yo say guys? Laurén nkunda is too good to be compared wit that kachokwe maestro! You start a war, you dance with pangas! Kangwa please dont be afraid, we are with you! I will teach you how to decapitate a rebel! Impail him! Feed him to the suntwes! Guttën tag!
Thanks U/T
I could i forget janjaweed” in Darfur?
#52 Pumpy Happy belated birthday.Come on you didn’t tell us.Now that I have said Happy birthday You have to send me a piece of cake.
The project is too small to attract our attention, look at the MP allowances and you talk of K 500 milion to be a development project.
What a shame
Goodnite everybody. Let us keep blogging
#45. Pumpy, I hope you saw my heartfelt birthday wishes to you on the other thread.
Take careful care.
#42. Lord of the Flies, on your:
“#39 Maestro
Hiya!
which better activities?
assignments eh.
Are you doing your PHD or Masters and in which field? You can choose which Q to answer.
”
Response:
Better was kulya akubala mangwalo akubelesya kulemba Literature Review.
Ndibala Space Physics, Economics, Law, Management, Accounting, Aeronautical Engineering mubushonto. Inga mwandilembela ku [email protected] na kulicimbi nchomuyanda kuziba.
Amupone chibotu.
Chewe must be a dagga smoker. I cant explain his reasoning.
# 26 i totally agree with you rubber is not a prioty project for zambians as at now, at this time all wat zambia needs is intensive food production.Besides why cant governemnet reopen Mansa batteries despite having plenty of magnessium in Bahati area, rather than importing batteries from China, It create employement for the local pipo.
#50, people from luapula are not lazy, as you said they work for chinese mines. To me mining is more tough than farming. They are just business minded or they like money. so if they can make money by fishing and mining, then why waste time on unprofitable maize farming. for your information, maize farming in Zambia is not profitable , even commercial farmers are not planting it as they suppose to do. What Luapula people do is cultivate Cassava, for such in my life time I have never head of that there is hunger in Luapula. Early this month, it was reported that there hunger in Eastern province, – lazy chaps
Why does every discussion degenerate into puerile tribalistic finger pointing? Fair point 60, rubber will fill the already bulging coffers of the political masters,and contribute very little to prevention of hunger.
This is the time for Zambia to be OBAMAnised.Start now punting for a young president, whoever it is, for the next three years, lets pick a person who can take Zambia to next level RB will not.RB has done the job “stoping SATA” period, it ends here.We need an OBAMA for Zambia, we need to be inspired and we need hope.Where is Prof. Chirwa, Given Lubinda, HH, these guys shud start now mobilising the youth not three months before elections.We need a two-years campaign, we have leaders with tired minds either Sata, RB, their era is past.Come on guys lets start such discussions.
#63. Miyoba, president HH was last seen at his farm in Pemba working hard on making sure his cattle were in good shape. He is supposedly on leave from UPND issue, but will come up at the right time. Currently the mighty UPND is carrying out a postmortem of the 2008 election results and it envisions a hard and long campaign in the next 3 years to reach out to people on a door-to-door or person-to-person basis campaign.On the otherhand,I think we do not need to copy Obama but stick to our men and women in Zambian politics to make local names and not uplift others names. Remember Kalusha Bwalya did it by not copying Diego Maradona’s name. ‘One Zambia, One Nation”, Together YES we all shall.
#5 ARE U AMONG ZAMBIAS’ PLUNDERERS,I’M FAILING TO UNDERSTAND U WHY ARE U SCARED OF SATA MC
HH is out of the picture, we need a neutral person like Prof. Chirwa.
#58 Maestro
I don’t need to know anymore.
oh! one more question.
Where are my beers?
It would also be good to have local plants that can turn this rubber into finished products, for example tyres, gum-boots etc. for local and export.
#
67. your flag Lord of the Flies, unfortunately I don’t buy or take beer since I know it is not good for me. With this background, I can not give you something I do not take. Hhehhehhehhe, I will think of something else may be New Year present for you.
Keep well and be blessed.
Four/five years ago, when Nevers Mumba was Republican Vice-President, I vividly remember the time he was sent by President Levy Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) to Malaysia to appreciate issues of rubber. It was done and Nevers returned to Zambia and immediately went to Luapula to kick-start that rubber plantation project. I also remember visiting the project site and we even inspected some of the already “grown up” rubber trees in Nchelenge area. It looked a very sustainable project. But what went wrong? This is the problem in Zambia, spend so much money to start projects and abandon them midstream. God help us. I hope this rubber project will work out.
Madam Namugala Rubber plantations are a misplaced priorities. Support PALM OIL PLANTATIONS. Edible oil consumption is high in zambia and we are floded with east african and malaysian edible oil imports. Dunlop was closed by Chiluba’s Penzanomics. Who will use this rubber when we can even manufacture simple condoms. Why produce what u cannot use. Remember the paprika rip off of poor farmers. PALM OIL will help fight malnutrition and byproducts can be used to make soap and cosmetics. Pliz think outside KK’s UNIP commandist economic misdirection.
CORRECTION 1Edible oil consumption is high in zambia and we are flooded with east african and malaysian edible oil imports.
CORRECTION 2 Who will use this rubber when we cannot even manufacture simple condoms?
There are many activities in Value chain for edible oils in zambia that will add value from plalm oil products. The consumer goods can be produced from raw material to end product right there in luapula and CB of LSK. For rubber you have export and we dont even know whether it shall meet export quality. You just dont dump stuff on the export market. It is more competitive than the domestic market. LEARN TO CRAWL BEFORE YOU TRY TO WALK. start with meeting our own needs first before thinkig of the export market that maybe non existant/turn down the rubber
same stories but no results from these same projects
I wonder where this country is heading to…
A minister in her wisdom proudly starts talking about Rubber plantations in Luapula. In modern times even countries which have got natural rubber trees have stopped croping bacause the latex harvested using this methord results in very expensive rubber. Industry all over the world now use synthetic rubber which is cheaper and can be moulded into various character forms easily. Please dont wast time on archaic activities
In Zambia how much vehicle are used for transportation and goods deliver from one place to another. See the wastage of tyres per day. How much money spend. At least if can rebuilt tyres 60% of this just think how much can save. No need to have big factory. RSS RUBBER and scrap rubber would enough to this. How about rubber horses for irrigation matters,rubber bushes and other gloves, rubber shoes etc.just think synthetic will be over. Rubber tree is environment friendly. Life span over 30 yers if budded or seedlings over 50 years. After that life span can cut for firewood or timber for furniture. This is renewable thing. There are lot of knowledgeable people available. No need to bring expencive furniture from other countries. Boron treatment rubber wood perfect row material for it.
I reffer the above statement made by me yesterday and no one answerd to it. due to not enough space I couldn’t discuss empoyment issuies. if we start rubber plantations not like other crop it needs lot of labour. can give a answer for unempoment issue in Zambia. There are dircet and indirect jobs oppertunities will be. ok i like to have feedback/