EU Commits to boosting Zambia’s agriculture sector
Nais-Agriculture Minister REUBEN MTOLO says government is developing mechanisms and interventions that will help to enhance productivity in the agriculture sector.
Mr. MTOLO says his ministry has already identified 1m hectares of land which will be used to carry out various agricultural activities in order to improve the country’s food basket.
Speaking in Lusaka, when the European Union delegation paid a courtesy call on him, Mr. MTOLO says there is need to use the land which is currently underutilized as currently Zambia is only using 16m hectares of land instead of the available 40m hectares.
He added that government is also promoting farm mechanization and irrigation among farmers, especially the smallholder to increase their crop production and productivity.
And European commissioner for agriculture JANUSZ WOJCIECHOWSKI says the European Union remains committed to partner with the government to ensure that Zambia become a net exporter of agricultural commodities in Africa.
He observed the need to assist smallholder farmers with small farming implements in order to expand their area of cultivation and increase their yields per hectare.
Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Permanente Secretary ANNA SONGOLO emphasized the need to control livestock diseases which are limiting livestock production in the country.