PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says the government is determined to make agriculture the leading industry in the country through formulation of favourable policies.
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Speaking in Nyimba today when he launched the 2023/2024 National Planting Season, the President emphasized the need to support the Agriculture Sector so as to achieve enhanced production.
Mr Hichilema said the provision of the Agriculture credit window is one of the Policy intervention Government has instituted to increase Agriculture Production as those not benefiting from the Farmer Input support Program (FISP) will now have an opportunity to access finances to venture into farming.
The Head of state said the government wants public service workers to access loans so as to allow them engage into meaningful agriculture production.
He has reiterated his challenge to farmers to seize the window of opportunity to grow sufficient grain that would not only benefit domestic demand but also the regional market in the neighbouring countries.
The Republican President said Mozambique, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo will now make formal import requests to the Zambian Government for maize supply so as to discourage illegal export of the commodity into those countries.
Speaking at the same event Agriculture Minister Mutolo Phiri said the New Dawn Administration is happy that it has achieved timely delivery of farming inputs under the 2023/2024 FISP.
Mr Phiri said this achievement is in line with the New Dawn Government`s strong resolve to ensure farmers are provided with inputs in a timely and adequate manner.
The Minister has directed staff under his Ministry to provide the technical support to farmers so that they are able to utilize the inputs received from the Government in an appropriate manner for increased yields.
Earlier, Zambia National Farmers Union President Jervis Zimba said ZNFU fully supports Government efforts to make Agriculture a viable business undertaking.
The increase of the maize flow price from K180 to K280 in the last crop marketing season is impressive, saying this is an incentive that will result in increased maize production among small scale farmers.
At the same event, the host farmer, Jeremiah Nyendwa thanked the Government for hosting the 2023/2024 planting season at his farm urging Government to increase support to farmers so as to be able to achieve the projected targets in crop production. – ZANIS
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