The Government of Finland says it attaches great importance to supporting agriculture development in Zambia.
Speaking at the Namwala District Farmers Association Annual General Meetung (AGM) held at Brichi motel yesterday, District Finnish Representative Nachile Kaila said that the support is aimed at improving productivity of small scale farmers and food security among others.
Ms Kaila said it was for this reason that the support to the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) is one of the ways to achieve the objective to support farming by the Finnish government.
Ms Kaila said that she was impressed with the Namwala District Farmers Association report but added that a lot needs to be done to increase membership.
And speaking at the same function, Namwala District Commissioner Mary Sakala said government is committed to promoting livestock farming in the district hence construction and rehabilitation of dip tanks to improve veterinary services.
Ms Sakala further said that there is need for the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) to include diary animals on Bunjimi asset plus financing.
She also financing should be extended to include goat and cattle beef acquisition especially for Kaabwe, Muchila and Mbeza farmers as this will help almost all the farmers to participate in the ZNFU programs.
The Namwala District Commissioner has called on stakeholders involved in selling and clearing cattle to revise the current exorbitant charge on cattle during clearing and verifications.
Ms Sakala has called on traditional leaders to make sure that no headman is exploiting on charges of verifications .
There has been an out-cry recently by cattle farmers that they are being exploited by headmen , Councils, and the Zambia Police in the verification charges and clearing of cattle.
And Chief mukobela of the Ila people of Namwala has appealed to headmen not to be charging K20 per head of cattle but instead the same amount per verification of about one to 30 herds of cattle.
Chief Mukobela said that what should be charged should be per verification not per head of cattle which will be affordable and reasonable to the cattle farmers.
Meanwhile, Namwala acting District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Martin Skainga has appealed to farmers to consider farming as a business venture for it to develop in the district.
He said that when farming is taken as business venture it will provide jobs and the much needed nutrition for the villagers.
Mr Skainga said that government wants to partner with the ZNFU to promote services such as lima credit and the asset plus schemes.
