Govt. commends Mkushi District for hosting first ever provincial show

Govt. commends Mkushi District for hosting first ever provincial show

Kabwe, July 13, 2013, ZANIS  —-    Government has commended the people of Mkushi for successfully hosting  the first ever  provincial show in the district.

Central province Minister Phillip Kosamu  says the dynamics of food production and its demands in the province  have never been demonstrated  before through the provincial show driven by farmers and stakeholders themselves.

Mr. Kosamu  said the province has contributed 478, 733.8 tons of maize to the national grain basket, being second highest producer of commercial maize after eastern province with 572,289.4 tons.

“ Central province has this 2012/2013 season produced more wheat, soyabeans, Virginia tobacco, popcorn, seed maize and barley tobacco than any other province in the country, ” he said.

ZANIS reports from Mkushi District that the minister said this  when he officially opened the Central province Agriculture and Commercial show in Mkushi today.

He said he had no doubt that central province will compete favourably even at the national level as this was a testimony by farmers’ initiative in agriculture development in the province.

He appealed to agriculture extension officers in the province  to intensify education to small scale farmers on crop diversification in order to broaden the agricultural base.

The minister said this will also help the small scale farmers to understand conservation to minimize risks involved due to mechanization and modern farming methods which are heavily dependent on chemicals.

Mr Kosamu said government was in a hurry to take development to the remotest areas which would be achieved through the use of money saved from subsidies of maize and fuel.

“The removal of subsidies is one of the interventions of securing people’s lives, a positive contribution towards development, and protecting economic assets, thereby promoting social security, Mr
Kosamu explained.

Speaking at the same occasion, Central province chairperson for Agriculture and Commercial Show Society Rabson Mwenda appealed to the PF government to continue helping the Show society in the funding in contributing to the event’s program as it struggles to stand on its own as a society.

Mr. Mwenda  has  further appealed to the government to help the society in getting the title deeds for the already surveyed  thirteen, 13, hectors piece of land in Kabwe which is supposed to be used to host provincial shows and for other businesses.

He however, expressed concern over the shunning of the shows by most commercial farmers and other notable organizations in the province.

And Mkushi Agriculture and Commercial Society says  it commends government on maintaining the stance on the removal of subsidies on maize and fuel would open up the agriculture sector to more players to participate.

Society chairperson Victor Chisi, says the society said the move will help to improve certain infrastructures such as roads and Zesco which continues to affect the farming communities, especially with the over stretched load-shedding.

Mkushi district was used as a venue for the show for the first time away from the traditional Kabwe, as a way of recognizing the district’s participation in the creation of good business environment.