UNIP advises government in agric sector
United National Independence Party (UNIP) in Southern Province has advised government to start planning and preparing for the 2018/ 2019 farming season.
UNIP Provincial Chairperson Captain Robert Mukengami says that doing so would be the best way to address the current problems farmers were going through.
In an interview with the Daily Nation in Livingstone, Capt. Mukengami said that the agriculture sector has partially been neglected by the PF government since it took over power in 2011.
“Like I have always said, the agriculture sector has died under the PF to date some farmers have not received the payments and the E-voucher cards are not activated," he said.
"I don't know why President Lungu is still keeping Dora Siliya as agriculture minister. That woman has failed the sector and we all need to accept that," he said.
Captain Mukengami boasted that there is no government that will run the agriculture sector like UNIP did 25 years ago.
"Under the MMD the agriculture sector failed and now under the PF it is worse. As UNIP, we are advising government to start planning now," he said.
"We need to prioritise the sector if this country is to appreciate agriculture as business. It is not fair to have farmers who by December 31, they are still owed money by FRA and their electronic cards are not activated.
He pleaded with government to put the agriculture sector top on list of the country's diversification strategy.