Youth challenged to go into agro-forestry, green business

-Government has challenged young people in the country to join the fight against climate change by investing in agro-forestry and green business.

Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Wilbur Simuusa said young people can earn a living if they invest in climate change business.

Mr. Simuusa said agro-forestry and green business can create employment opportunities and wealth to the youth.

He said the youth should diversify their entrepreneurial activities which include planting of trees.

Mr. Simuusa was speaking in Lusaka today when he planted a tree at Bauleni Basic School in continued activities of the national youth week ahead of the youth day which falls on March 12, 2013.

The theme for this year’s youth week is “opportunities for youth through enterprise”.

He noted that climate change posses a lot of challenges to sustainable national development because it causes floods, droughts and environmental degradation.

He stated that climate change business in Australia and New Zealand has shown overwhelming opportunities for the young people who manage green house business.

The minister however, said the exercise of planting of trees was a universal responsibility for all hence it should not be left to young people alone.

And speaking earlier, Youth and Sport Permanent Secretary Agness Musunga disclosed that her ministry through working with pupils has so far planted over of 10,000 trees in different schools across the country.

Ms. Musunga said her ministry would further mobilise the youths to take part in viable initiatives in order to promote a better environment in the schools.

Meanwhile, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Country Representative Shaya Asindua unveiled a tree planting programme dubbed ‘Unite4Climate’ which will be undertaken in collaboration with pupils in schools.

Ms. Asindua challenged the youth to adopt a culture of tree planting not only in learning institutions but also in their communities.

Deputy South African High Commissioner to Zambia Patrick Jacobs, Ms. Musunga, Ms. Asindua, Bauleni School teachers and pupils also joined Mr. Simuusa in planting a tree each.

The tree planting exercise that was held at Bauleni Basic School today is part of the national tree planting exercise that was launched by President Michael Sata in Chongwe a few months ago.

In the national tree planting exercise, a total of 25 million trees are earmarked to be planted countrywide.