SOME key players in the agriculture sector have said they are geared to continue increasing production and improve the sector’s contribution to the economy. A random survey of participants at the Agriculture and Commercial show, which opens in Lusaka today, revealed that most institutions wanted to sustain and build on the bumper harvest to increase food security and achieve sustainable development.
Companies and Government institutions exhibiting were all geared to contribute to the sector. Zambia this year recorded a bumper harvest of 2.8 million tonnes of maize for the 2009/2010 agricultural seasons. This is the highest quantity of maize ever recorded in the country’s history.
Commenting on this year’s agriculture show, Zambia National Service (ZNS) public relations officer Mable Mulenga said with the good policies in place, it had been easy for the institution to contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector.
Captain Mulenga said the institution had managed to register an average 75 bags of maize per hectare as compared to 35 bags per hectares recorded in the previous years.
A Lusaka based farmer Gaston Phiri hailed the favourable agriculture policies implemented by the Government which have favoured the development of the industry.
Mr Phiri explained that farmers are now able to grow high yields due to the farmer input support programme (FISP) that the Government implemented to support the small-holder farmers.
Lusaka Biofuels Association of Zambia (BAZ) Coordinator Tyson Chisambo said his association had taken advantage of the show to promote the growing of energy and food crops to enhance food security for sustainable development.
This year’s theme ‘Sustainable Development’ for the agriculture sector aims to ensure that food security and economic growth would enhance the resource base.
And Zambia College of Agriculture training officer Foster Mangwato said in order for Zambia to continue achieving meaningful growth in the agriculture sector, more investment should be allocated for training of extension officers.
[Times of Zambia]