— PS impressed with maize production in Kasempa

PS impressed with maize production in Kasempa

Kasempa, January 17, ZANIS-Production of Maize in Kasempa District has continued to increase with this year’s total sells to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) amounting to over 20,054.65 metric from 19 satellite depots in the 2014-15 marketing season.

Agriculture and Livestock Permanent Secretary David Shamulenge observed during his tour that the district has tremendously increased production of maize and thereby has maintained to be the grain basket of the North-Western province.

Dr Shamulenge noted that Kasempa has had a consistent pattern of rainfall that has attributed to high crop production when compared to other districts within the province.

“I am pleased to note the high production sells that Kasempa has experienced in that last farming season and as government we will to more to improve agriculture in north-western province,” he said.

Meanwhile a total bill of K28 million that was owed to farmers was paid off to all who had supplied their maize stock to the Agency with a promise from government to improve payments in this year’s marketing season.

Dr Shamulenga has since promised quick payments to all farmers who will supply maize to the FRA in the next farming season because the country has experienced a bumper harvest which evidently improve funding to the Agency.

Among the projects visited was the construction of livestock service centre which was constructed at cost of K100 thousand targeting to service more than 40 thousand animals within the district.

And Kasempa District Administrative Officer Mercy Kambita appealed to the permanent Secretary to provide the department of Agriculture with transport, adequate funding and also improve on the maize grain storage in order to avoid wasting government resources.