– Mwandi District holds its first ever Agric. show

Mwandi District holds its first ever Agric. show

Mwandi , June 02, 2014,  ZANIS —-  Government says it will support all small scale farmers to increase production in Mwandi District.

Mwandi District Commissioner Akufuna Chabi says government will continue providing inputs through the farmer input support programme (FISP) to encourage farmers to produce more crops in order to improve their livelihoods.

Ms. Chabi said that for the district to achieve high yield productivity farmers should practice conservation farming and ensure early land preparation, early planting and also use of hybrid seed and fertilizers.

She said this in a speech read for her behalf by the District Administrative Officer Mr. Mubitelela Sililo,  during the first ever District Agricultural and Commercial show in Lutaba  over the weekend whose theme was “2014: breaking new grounds”.

MS. Chabi  said this year’s theme encourages us to start something new in our way of farming in view of the hostile climatic conditions the area was experiencing.

The DC also said that in order to control domestic animal diseases a total number of 442 dogs were vaccinated against rabies, 3192 cattle were vaccinated against black leg while 24,142 were vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.

Ms Chabi stated that government through Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has identified Mwandi District to develop beef and fish processing industries which will trigger economic development of the district and the nation as a whole.

And Mwandi Agricultural and Commercial show society Chairman Godwin Samwaka said the change of farming to conservation agriculture methods has improved the livelihoods of people in  the area because most farmers are now enjoying good crop yields.

Mr Samwaka appealed to government to look into the plight of the residents of Mwandi by constructing roads and bridges as most areas are flood prone and tend to be cut off during the rainy season.

He further commended government for creating an enabling environment for farmers through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the purchase of maize grain by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).