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Govt. ‘canes’ farming groups in Mkushi
Mkushi , May 30th. 2013, ZANIS—Mkushi District Commissioner (DC) Christopher Chibuye has castigated Farmer Cooperative Groups for shunning the 2013 Ilume Agriculture Block Show.
Mr. Chibuye bemoaned the poor participation in the event saying that less than 10 % of the 520 cooperatives from this Block, had participated in this year’s event.
He said this development as saddening, as he was expecting a high attendance from Farmer Groups in the biggest agric-Block in the District.
ZANIS reports that the Mkushi District Commissioner said this when he graced the Block Show held at Musakamba School yesterday.
He pointed out that Mkushi was amongst the leading agriculture regions in the country, adding that the district had been chosen to host the 2013 Central Province Agriculture and Commercial Show.
He said that in view of this, maximum participation in Block Shows was expected from all agriculture stakeholders as Government was keen to monitor feedback from small scale Farmers during such forums.
And from Another Block Show, Chief Chitina stressed on the need for Farmers to set a good precedence for younger generations to be attracted to farming as a business.
Chief Chitina said this whilst gracing the Mubalashi Block Show at Chitina School, explaining that there was need for the current generation of Farmers to strive for success.
Chief Chitina said that that Government deserved to be commended for its consistency in promoting agriculture as a business as well as encouraging farming methods such as Conservation farming.
He noted that Government had also helped to reduce poverty by maintaining policies such as FISP (Farmer Input Support Program), adding that such policies had generally improved the plight of small scale Farmers.
He said that it was therefore imperative for Farmers to reflect on Government’s commitment to agriculture, and ensure that they maximized the opportunities that were being presented by Government policies.
Chief Chitina commented on the 2013 theme which read as ‘doing business in a changing environment’.
He said that there was need for Farmers to adapt farming activities to modern trends that pertained to enterprise as well as farming methods.
He said that in this regard, agriculture Block Shows served as vital platforms from which knowledge of agro-business and agronomy skills, could be generated.
Chief Chitina observed that the current generation of Farmers were obliged to maximize opportunities that were presented in farming business, as well as to learn more about coping strategies for threats such as climate change.
He said that it was important for Farmer to understand that they owed this obligation to themselves as well as to the younger generations.
According to data obtained from Mkushi DACO (District Agriculture Coordination Office), Ilume Block is the biggest agriculture Block in Mkushi with 520 cooperatives, followed by Mubalashi with 270. ZANIS / ENDS / CM / WITH PICS. login www.zanis.com.zm.for more
