Fri, 19 May 2017 09:55:30 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
THE more than 3.6 million metric tonnes maize bumper harvest expected this year has elated the ruling Patriotic Front in Southern Province.
Provincial vice information secretary Trymore Mwenda said the large harvest was an indication of President Edgar Lungu’s sound and good leadership qualities. In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Mwenda said the expected maize bumper harvest would be the highest in the country’s history and that the achievement had elated and overwhelmed the ruling PF in Southern Province.
He said the record maize harvest had been achieved amid numerous setbacks like the armyworms, stalkborers, migratory locusts, teething problems of the e-voucher system and delayed delivery of inputs in some cases.
But Mr Mwenda urged farmers in the province not to rush to sell their crop to briefcase buyers but wait to sell their produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to ensure that they got true value for their investment.
“Alternatively, they should negotiate for favourable prices with private buyers as this would be the only way farmers will be encouraged to perform even better in the next season,” said Mr Mwenda.
He said despite setbacks and predictions of total crop failure by some prophets of doom, President Lungu took the bull by the horns and issued directives to the defence forces to join in the fight against armyworms and urged the Ministry of Agriculture to step up inputs distribution, hence this success.
Mr Mwenda commended the Head of State, saying that was what a good leader was expected to do.
He challenged the opposition to take note of the many positive things that the Government was doing and urged them to acknowledge this monumental achievement.He said it was clear that President Lungu and his team were determined and eager to transform and diversify the economy from mining to agriculture.
Mr Mwenda said the bumper harvest spoke volumes of the huge potential Zambia was endowed with, adding that what had been lacking in the past was the right leadership and political will which had been demonstrated by President Lungu.
He commended Agriculture Minister, Dora Siliya, and her staff for doing a good job by remaining focused amid unprecedented attacks on her professional and personal life at the height of uncertainties in the sector.
And Democratic Assembly president Maxwell Mwamba has urged the Government to build on this success by ensuring that maize is grown all year round through sustained non- rain water dependent projects.
Mr Mwamba said indicators and the positive outlook in the agriculture sector had shown that it would improve sustainable livelihood and poverty reduction among citizens.
He has urged the Government to consider reducing agricultural inputs for the next faming season.
