COMMERCE, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has said the Government has this year managed to attract investment worth US$100 million in the agriculture sector because of the conducive business climate in Zambia.
Mr Mutati said this yesterday during the luncheon organised by the Agriculture and Commercial Show Society in conjunction with Cavmont Bank.
The Government has realised the agriculture sector was the biggest employer of the citizens and would, therefore, ensure that appropriate policies were put in place.
Apart from creating job opportunities, he said the sector was raising the profile of the country in as far as food security was concerned.
The issue of marketing and distribution of agricultural produce would also be addressed by the Government and it was, therefore, inappropriate for farmers to be continuously complaining.
Mr Mutati said issues of marketing and distribution was addressed.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peter Daka said the 2.7 million tonnes surplus harvest recorded this year was a big achievement.
Mr Daka said the bumper harvest was as a result of concerted efforts by the various stakeholders.
Peasant farmers played a pivotal role as they contributed closer to 80 per cent of the produce.
The Government subsidised for farming inputs to small-scale farmers and would in the coming years increase the number of beneficiaries from the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP).
Despite the bumper harvest, he regretted that briefcase buyers were exploiting the small-scale farmers by buying maize for as low as K25,000 per bag instead of the floor price of K65,000.
Mr Daka, however, assured the farmers that the FRA would buy maize in all the 68 depots hence the decision by the Government to source for more funding for the agency. The private sector could also play a part in purchasing the maize.
The World Food Programme could assist in taking Zambia’s produce to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan among other countries.
Cavmont Bank managing director Johan Minnaar said the surplus maize recorded this year would translate into more foreign currency for the country.
“Cavmont Bank was appointed as a financial intermediary for payments to farmers who have played an important role in increasing maize production,” Mr Minnaar said.
Times
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July 31st, 2010 at 4:58 am
There is still a need to address transport infrastructure in Zambia to improve access to markets. This remains a key constraint to the developing of agriculture.