Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:08:15 +0000
By Bennie Mundando
GOVERNMENT has commended Caritas Zambia for improving the lives of farmers in Kasama through its deliberate policy to buy locally-produced sunflower at competitive prices for its cooking oil manufacturing project.
Speaking after touring the cooking oil project owned by the Catholic Church under Caritas, Kasama, District Commissioner Kelly Kashiwa said while there had been a public outcry by farmers over lack of market and low prices for maize and soyabeans, Caritas-Kasama had provided hope for the sunflower growers.
Mr. Kashiwa, who was in the company of Mulilansolo ward councillor, Aaron Zimba and his Bululu ward counterpart Francis Musonda, thanked the organisation for providing a market and complementing Government’s efforts in improving the agriculture sector.
He said Government was impressed with such community-based initiatives aimed at empowering the locals, adding that with a readily available market for sunflower, more farmers will venture into production of the crop thereby improving their disposable incomes.
“Government is looking for every effort from individuals and organisations aimed at improving the quality of lives of our people. What you are doing as Caritas is commendable in that while Government is buying maize, paddy rice and soya beans, it is encouraging to see organisations like this one opening up other opportunities for our farmers by providing market for other crops.
“Without a doubt, this will not only help in realising Government’s dream to diversify the agriculture sector which will lead to the diversification of the economy from a copper-dependent one to agriculture because the sector has huge potential which if tapped and well nurtured, could spur economic growth in Zambia,” Mr. Kashiwa said.
He urged the two councillors to network with organisations such as Caritas in building cooperatives and linking them to available markets for other crops which could provide farmers with high turnovers.
And briefing the entourage, Caritas – Kasama director, Leonard Kalyoti said, the organisation was increasing the production of cooking oil due to availability of sunflower and market for cooking oil.
Fr. Kalyoti said that the organisation had embarked on the out-grower scheme and that they have since received over K1 million to expand the project.
