Mkushi farmers challenges to be addressed

Mkushi farmers challenges to be addressed

Mkushi, June 16, ZANIS —— Government has assured Mkushi farmers of its commitment to address their challenges faced in their quest to enhance agriculture activities.

Mkushi District Commissioner Christopher Chibuye who was guest of honour at the Lweo Block agriculture show assured farmers of government’s commitment towards improving their plight.

Mr Chibuye said that government had already put in place measures to improve road network in the area which he said was a stepping stone among many challenges they faced.

The District Commissioner cited the Chiponya—Masansa road as well as the Masansa—Old Mkushi roads which he said would soon receive bituminous attention.

He said apart from tarring of the two roads, government was also going to apply similar attention to the Masansa—Mpula road, adding that the move would link Mkushi Boma, Lweo Block  as well as Luano district with tar road.

Farmers in Mkushi’s Lweo agriculture Block have cited poor road infrastructure, lack of credit facilities and late payments by Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as being among the major challenges the farming community was facing.

During the 2013 Lweo Block Show in Masansa, Lweo Block Chairperson Victor Mutambo said that the poor state of roads in the area negatively affected the smooth running of agro related operations.

Mr Mutambo said that the bad state of roads impacted a high cost of doing agriculture business on and that it was difficult for many to ferry produce and inputs as motor vehicles frequently breaking down due to bad roads.

He further mentioned that there was need for improved performance from the FRA in the aspect of prompt payments to farmers regarding maize sold to the agency.

During the same event, Mkushi Farmers Association (MFA) Representative Alex Chansa urged government to consider implementing interventions to widen the opportunities for small scale farmers to commercialise operations. 

Mr Chansa said that most small scale farmers were faced with challenges relating to lack of access to Loan facility, adding that this hindered many from expanding their farming into sustained business status.

He said that in view of such challenges, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) had been running the Lima Credit Scheme over the past two farming seasons as a bid to help small scale farmers to graduate into Emergent or Medium scale.

He said the introduction of this Credit Scheme had contributed about 19, 524 hectares to the total area under maize production in 10 Provinces.

Mr Chansa said that the Lima Credit Scheme also focused on promoting crop diversification amongst small scale farmers, adding that production of Soya Bean, Rice and Sunflower was encouraged.

He added that the ZNFU had donated 27 bicycles to some Contact Small Scale Farmers in Lweo Block, saying that this move was aimed at easing operations regarding the managing as well as monitoring progress amongst the Lima Credit Scheme beneficiaries.

In response to access to Credit facility, the Mkushi District Commissioner urged farmers to scale up in pursuing some of the government initiated empowerment schemes citing Youth Development Fund, Women Empowerment Fund among others.

Mr Chibuye said that government’s agriculture policy was driven by the need to provide food at the right price that is affordable by the Zambian people.

He said that in this regard, measures were in place to ensure that the cost of doing farming as a business is made easier for farmers in Lweo Block, adding that road construction projects would commence before the end of this month.

Mr Chibuye also commended the ZNFU applying some Loan Credit facility for small scale Farmers, saying that this move showed real partnership with Government.