Friday, March 29, 2024

Presidents Banda and Wa Mutharika impressed with Zambian farmers

Share

File : Peasant farmers selling part of their maize harvest

President Rupiah Banda says the zeal of Zambian farmers to produce food and cash crops was very encouraging.

Speaking after touring a number of stands in the Lusaka Show Grounds this morning, President Banda said he was impressed with what he saw on exhibition in different stands today.

“This is something that is very encouraging. It is encouraging to see people especially in provincial stands producing so much food,” he said.

He said the production of over 2.7 million metric tones of maize this year was an indication that Zambia was on the right track in terms of food security and economic development.

President Banda said in order to sustain such development, there was need for Zambians to be united and uphold the peace which the country has been enjoying since gaining political independence 46 year ago.

And President of Malawi, Bingu Wa Mutharika, said Zambia has tremendously improved its agricultural activities over the years.

Professor Wa Mutharika said Zambian farmers have also improved the packaging of their farm products, which he said will create a lot of markets for them.

“I came to this show ground a long time ago when I was Secretary General of COMESA. But now there is great improvement. I would say keep it up,” he said.

Earlier, President Banda and President Bingu Wa Mutharika, separately toured various stands which included Lima Hall housing exhibits of agricultural products from all nine provinces of Zambia, ZAMSEED, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board, ZAIN and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

Other stands the Presidents toured are Malawi and Kenya stands in the Jubilee Hall, Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Association (ZCSMBA) Environmental Council of Zambia, Energy Regulation Board (ERB), Bankers Association of Zambia, and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

The rest are SAROS Agro Business, Conservation Farming Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture and ZAMBEEF.

Some ministers and other senior government officials accompanied the two presidents on the tour of stands.

The two Presidents are scheduled to officially open the 84th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show this afternoon.

This year’s show is being held under theme ‘Sustainable Development’.

Hundreds of local companies and over 15 countries are exhibiting at this year’s Agricultural and Commercial Show, which opened its doors to the public two days ago and closes on Monday, August 2nd 2010.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I am originally from India. I came to Zambia 10 years ago to work for a pharmaceuticals company owned by a Zambian millionaire ($$$) of Indian origin who now resides in England.
    When I came to Zambia I had with me only a shirt on my back and a Zambian work permit.
    I was earning $3000 per month plus accommodation.
    I was employed in the sales and distribution.
    I worked five straight years and saved.
    I went back to India organized my self and made contacts.
    After 1 year in India I came back to Zambia and opened up my own pharmacy which has grown from strength to strength!
    I now employ close to 20 full time Zambian employees and I am my own boss!
    In the first 3 years of business I made a cool 1,000,000.00($$) Million! Now how about that!
    Generally I feel that there are a lot of…

  2. I totally agree with the President. Zambia is an eldorado. We can turn our fortunes even better with more Zambians in commercial agriculture.

  3. Not to take away from important issues being talked about, oh yes Dr Mutarika lived in Zambia even before he went to work for the World Bank and United Nations and then COMESA (formerly known as PTA which was Preferencial Trade Area), but his surname is Mutarika not Wa Mutarika because before he put in the “wa” he was Bingu Mutarika. I just thought he should be addressed as Dr Mutarika or Professor (strange though!), not Wa Mutarika.

  4. @ #1 Kumleshi Kumar

    Your post is very inspiring. Please keep it up and keep inspiring Zambians.

    Coming to the above story now, I think we should keep up with this momentum gained from the bumper harvest and aim to exceed what we have produced this year.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading