President Edgar Lungu has called upon the private sector to increase investment in agro-processing in order to add value to the country’s agro products.
President Lungu said this will guarantee job creation as the country is poised to become competitive in the region and beyond.
The Republican President said this during the official opening of the 92nd Zambia Agricultural and Commercial show in Lusaka today celebrated under the theme ‘sustainable economic empowerment ‘.
Mr. Lungu said the theme is in line with government’s aspirations espoused in the Second National Agricultural Policy(SNAP) to have an efficient, competitive and sustainable agricultural sector which assures food and nutrition security, increased employment opportunities and incomes.
The need for sustainable economic empowerment for all Zambians through diversified economic activities is the overall objective, he added.
“ Government is focused on achieving economic growth through diversification by investing in growth sectors which will impact positively on the lives of the majority of the people, “ said the President.
He emphasized the need to increase production in agriculture in all sectors to see a wide range of crops, livestock and fish in the spirit of diversification.
The Republican President added that crops, fisheries and livestock sub-sectors are among the strategic areas of focus in the quest to attaining sustainable economic empowerment in line with this year’s agricultural and Commercial show theme.
“ The sub-sectors have the capacity to reduce poverty, enhance food and nutrition security, create employment and wealth for many people, “ he said.
And speaking at the same event, Agricultural and Commercial Show Society of Zambia President Caroline Silwamba noted that the theme is appropriate as it sends a signal that economic empowerment is essential for economies and businesses everywhere if the country is to remain competitive in today’s international economy.
Ms. Silwamba revealed that the show has attracted both local and foreign exhibitors from various sectors of the economy.
The show has recorded over 110 foreign exhibitors representing 20 countries from Africa, Asia,Europe and South America, respectively.
Ms. Silwamba further disclosed that local participation has recorded over 1000 exhibitors marking an increase in the number of exhibitors as compared to last year.
President Lungu calls upon the private sector to increase investment in agro processing since the PF gov’t has failed in everything said dull Lungu
I don’t think guy steals, I have so much doubts.
Pronouncements and doing what is being pronounced elludes African leaders.
African leaders have lofty wonderful pronouncements, when it comes to do what they pronounced… you see the opposite happening like fire trucks and over priced contracts.
One wonders what happens in our leaders heads when they ascend to power.
And where do you place your Food Reserve Agency that is hindering and even hurting farmers plus private sector agro processors?
That’s the point… it is more of reductive policies and pronouncements going on.
A country’s economy is more complicated than what this pronouncement entails.
In an economy, everything feeds off each other.
It begins with Zambia’s education system for instance, it doesn’t speak to the economy. That’s the basic of our failure as a nation and a reason we are always looking for other countries to help us.
We need a more serious president. This calling for private sector or begging Turkey to pay our debts is embarrassing. Why not save money or uncessary travels and self induced by elections and channel that money to farmers? Or even get rid of Chinese contracts that have been obtained suspiciously. Use that money been paid to these Chinese raping our country and give it to Zambians.
How can private sector develop when government policies are restrictive. ZRA hammering every business, 20 types of licences and documents required for the simplest of businesses, local authorities also want their share, high fuel and electricity costs , the list goes on and on.
kiki the chap is always conferred some silly title. Talk about loving oneself. This man is trying to cultivate a cult of personality like Hitler did. The problem with trying so hard to show that you are working when you have no vision is that it always back fires. from begging for other countries to pay off the debts you have created to this now? PF has really made zambians look like a bunch of losers. This is not my president. I will never recognise this clown
A lot of new agro processing industries have been set up in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe processing animal, diary, maize, groundnut, potato and soy products reducing the shelf space of imported foodstuffs to less than 30% in the booming malls shelf space. Zambia also massively exports processed foodstuffs to neighbouring countries and naysayers would be stunned by how dominant Zambian processed foodstuffs are prominent in neighbouring countries.
The missing big link now is a large presence of provincial and district cooperatives in this sector. ZCF and small scale farmers must step up in this sector.