Mon, 28 Nov 2016 20:25:24 +0000 GOVERNMENT deserves a pat on the back for making agriculture take centre stage in the diversification programme by maintaining subsidies on fertilizer, says Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) president Ackim Mweemba. Mr Mweemba said the agriculture sector was critical for development if the country was to become a food basket. Commenting on certain areas of the 2017 Budget, Mr. Mweemba said Government should also tighten the grip by placing a ban on export of maize without value addition. He said that Government should consider an upward adjustment in the budgetary allocation to the sector to boost food security, generate raw materials to promote forward and backward linkages and enhance the livestock sector to feed the yawning demand in the sub-region. He also welcomed the decision to increase duty on semi- processed edible oils from 5 to 25 percent, stating that this would motivate local producers and […]
