Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr. Sam Mundia has commended farmers in Western Province for harvesting 41,353 metric tonnes of maize compared to last year’s 32,487 metric tonnes.
Dr. Mundia has since appealed to farmers in the province to properly secure their
harvest to avoid it getting destroyed.
He has also appealed to farmers to consider planting drought resistant crops to
boost food security in the province.
Dr. Mundia warned farmers not to sell the 60% subsided fertilizer.
Officiating at this year’s Mongu agriculture and commercial show, Mr Mundia said
the selling of subsidized fertilizer by some farmers was impeding government efforts
to boost the agriculture industry in the country.
He said government through the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP), was committed to
enhancing food production among the small scale farmers around the country.
Dr. Mundia also disclosed that government has allocated K110 million towards
irrigation farming at Namushakende Farm Institute in Mongu.
He said irrigation was one of the government priorities in agriculture production.
Dr. Mundia further disclosed that K63 million has been allocated to rejuvenate the
cashew industry in Western province.
He also said government will next year carry out a tse-tse fli eradication campaign
in Sesheke and Shangombo districts by spraying an area of about 20,000 square km in
the two districts.
Dr. Mundia said the project was part of the Pan-African tse-tse fly eradication
campaign.
Dr. Mundia appealed to farmers to join or form cooperatives as they were a vehicle
for development in rural areas.