Members of Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network from all the nine provinces in the resolved this in Lusaka at the weekend when they launched the “MMD agricultural Policy Beyond 2011”.
Network president Boyd Lyambai said in an interview yesterday that the members resolved to rally behind the ruling party after thorough scrutiny of the manifestos of the major political parties in Zambia.
Mr Lyambai said the network, which he said had 375,000 members, brought together provincial representatives who, on behalf of the general membership, resolved to support the MMD in 2011 general elections.
“We have decided to support the MMD during the 2011 general elections because of its sound agricultural policies from which the members have greatly benefited,” he said.
He said that as a farmer organisation the network was interested in the party which could continue empowering the members, through the provision of affordable and accessible agricultural inputs which the MMD currently achieving.
Mr Lyambai said the members looked at the United Party for National Development (UPND) manifesto, through which the party pledges to provide inputs free of charge to the farmers for the first two to three years but considered the feasibility of the issue, wondering where the party would get the resource for the 100 per cent subsidy.
On the Patriotic Front (PF), he said the party manifesto did not cater for farmers but just emphasised on putting the money in people’s pockets which would not benefit the farmers.
By Times Reporter
make sure the give farmers fertilizer and other things they need..dont support blindly
The problem is that African farmers are used to selling themselves out quite cheap and yet they are the most important farmers globally – supplying the world with countless healing herbs, fruits and vital organic & botanical foodstuffs like cocoa, coffee, bananas, mangoes, avocados and pineapples.
you should just stop talking, we have had enough – lets go pact, we are behind you.
Sata cannot help Zambia
whats this?????? farmers meeting to discuss politics ??? there are no other more important issues discussed?? i expected them to brain storm on improved farming techniques, irrigation alternatives, seed and soil conservation methods, farming technology advancements…e.t.c…to me they sound MMD sponsored…jokers
This is a joke,never heard of such nonsense organisation apart from Zambia National Farmers Union which has represention in all the nine provinces
The farmers have read the manifesto, and come to conclusion, they are Zambian’s, with a right to vote, if they had said they support PF, UPND of Heritage, would it still have been an issue for some of you, this is the democracy we fought so hard for in 1991, let the farmers decide who best represents their interest.
Zambia the real Africa the picture shows shallow minded farmers whose produce have not Been purchased by a government agent then the news is about the farmers supporting MMD . DM you are right this farmers must have been discussing ways of improving access to other markets for their products, but instead are being used by politicians who always cheat them.