Embrace farming, Katambo tells youths

AGRICULTURE remains a veritable means of eradicating poverty and ending food in- sufficiency in any nation, says Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo.

He said youths should develop keen interest in farming to reduce unemployment and create wealth.

Mr Katambo said it was sad that despite vast opportunities and empowerment programmes initiated by Government in the agricultural sector, majority of youths were still waiting for white collar jobs.

He told the Daily Nation that Zambia, by all standards, should be one of the richest countries of the world given her abundant natural and human resources.

Youths, he reiterated, should embrace agriculture to earn a living.

“Our youths should venture into farming as a means of earning a living, and at the same time increase food security, they should not just wait for white collar jobs. Youths should also promote vocational skills acquisition since it has become very difficult to engage the numerous graduates looking for white collar jobs.

“Zambia is endowed with natural resources and taping into these resources will increase the country’s GDP, it’s sad that farming in Zambia is practiced by farmers above the age of 60, while we have a lot of youths who are unemployed,” Mr Katambo said.

He noted that agriculture had a lot of potential to not only transform the national economy but also tremendously impact the personal lives of the farmers, particularly the youth.

Mr Katambo therefore urged youths to stop complaining about poverty and unemployment or blaming Government for every woe and challenge but rather think of creating wealth through farming.

According to him, every nation was blessed by God just as every person was endowed with divine creativity and common sense to exist.

“A society where everybody runs after Government to provide everything does not prosper,” Mr Katambo said.