President Rupiah Banda says agricultural growth offers a solution to stimulating the economy amidst the multiple global crisis.
Mr. Banda said thus the government would continue focusing on strengthening the agricultural sector.
The President said this at the 83rd Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka today whose theme is ” Challenge of Change.”
Mr. Banda said government’s strengthening the agricultural sector is because the sector has potential to help the country overcome the challenges the country was facing.
He also said Zambia has the resources and political will to turn things around to achieve the number one objective of attaining the food security for both rural and urban areas.
Mr. Banda said stimulating growth in the agriculture requires stepping up production and productivity.
He said this could be done through increased financial resource allocation to the agricultural sector by government in partnership with the private sector and cooperating partners.
He added that government in partnership with the private sector was actively promoting investment in the agricultural sector so that the sector could significantly contribute to improved food security.
“This would help us reduce hunger and extreme poverty in our country,” the President added.
Meanwhile President Banda was happy to note that the country is expected to produce 1,888,773 metric tones of maize this season.
He also noted that other food crops, such as rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, sweet potatoes and cassava have improved.
And to sustain the increased production of food, Mr. Banda said government would continue with the fertilizer Support Programme (FSP).
“Am glad that the programme has received an overwhelming response from our small-scale farmers, he said.
He also noted that the programme was undergoing review to improve beneficially- targeting so that inputs are given to the right people.
However, Mr. Banda has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to step up the crop marketing exercise because right now it needs much attention.
He has since urged the private sector to offer cost-effective prices so that farmers in the country could remain motivated to produce more.
And Mr. Banda said government was committed to the control and the eradication of the livestock diseases adding that government was working towards the creation of disease free zones in some parts of the country to enable Zambia’s livestock and livestock products access markets outside borders.
And President Banda also said government shall continue to pursue initiatives aimed at promoting economic diversification and create a user friendly, conducive environment for private sector partnership.
However, Mr. Banda said government shall continuously review the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) act in order to address the weakness in the country’s investment regime.
Speaking earlier Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show Society Chairperson Paul Mumbuluma said the agriculture sector plays a vital role to the development of the economy of the country.
Mr. Mumbuluma called on the government to ensure that it puts in more efforts in improving the agricultural sector in the country.
He also mentioned that there was need for the diversification of the country’s economy if the challenges were to be tackled efficiently.
ZANIS
wtf is government talking about wen there pipo lining up for dayz in the cold trying to sell their maize to the government.Zed government is f.up.The same gov that is talking about boosting the agriculture sector is the same government that is failing its own pipo.WTF
Govt continues to pay lip service to this very important sector, I hear speeches like this every year. Outside of the civil service, this industry is the major employer in the formal sector, & the major source of employment in the informal sector -over 80% of our people depend on it for their livelihood. Over the last few years, it has grown by less than 1 %, while the average economic growth is over 5%. If Govt was serious and sorted out this sector, besides the obvious benefits of food security, low food prices leading to low inflation & high employment, it will improve food manufacturing & exports, construction of better transport systems to the markets, boost retail sale of food products, improve the financial sector due to increased savings, & alleviate the 64% poverty level
Stop talking RB. Release the money to FRA for them to buy last years produce. Weather experts are predicting that next year’s rainfall will be below normal. El Nino is already devastating South America. Argentina is going to have to import food for the first time in decades. Usually the next sub-regions that get affected are Southern Africa and Australia. So expect starvation next year if you mess up the marketing season. Grain prices on the world market are already very high and if you knock off Argentinian and Australian production, Zambia will be in a ghastly situation because you wont afford to buy food on the international market. You heard it from me first!
I do not agree that agriculture is the best alternative in helping a country to develop. In fact I would put it at number 3 or 4 in my ranking among the areas that would help develop Zambia. We need to change in having this mentality. Let us focus on industrialisation/ manufacturing/ value addition of our raw materials.