State ready for army worm threat

By KETRA KALUNGA GOVERNMENT is ready to deal with army worms and red locusts that may pose a threat to food security in the country, Central Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kabwe has assured farmers.

He told farmers that government through the Ministry of Agriculture was prepared for any attack on crops by army worms and red locusts and would deal with the threat on farmers in the 2017/2018 farming season.

Speaking during the One Acre Fund launching distribution of farming inputs in Keembe Constituency of Chibombo District, Mr Kabwe said government was more than ready to deal with outbreaks of army worms or red locusts that might attack crops and pose a threat to the country's food security.

Over 7,000 farmers have benefitted from over 3,800 metric tonnes of D compound and Urea fertilizer and seeds in Chibombo's Chembe constituency.

The permanent secretary has since implored farmers to increase their farming outputs without any worrying about the crops being wiped out by any outbreak because the leadership of the country had already planned ahead on how to manage the outbreaks to ensure food security in the country.

"The government under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has taken care of anything that will deter you from maximizing your potential to grow a lot of crops such as army worms or red locusts outbreaks," Mr Kabwe said.

Mr Kabwe has commanded One Acre Fund for complimenting government efforts through the provision of inputs as early as November to enable farmers grow crops and apply inputs at the right time for a better yield.

Mr Kabwe also applauded the organisation for changing the livelihood of many people, especially women in Kapiri Mposhi District where a lot of women were empowered under the same fund.

He has also appealed to One Acre Fund to utilise the huge opportunity and potential in Zambia, especially in Central Province which is a hub of farming.

Mr Kabwe also appealed to One Acre Fund to roll out the support programme to the rest of the districts in Central Province.

One Arce Fund Africa Police Director, Colin Christensen expressed his organization's commitment to complimenting government efforts through empowering farmers through the timely provision of farming inputs.

Mr Christensen commended the government for creating an enabling environment for organizations such as his to flourish.