DC warns farmers
…don’t sell maize to briefcase buyers
‘We’ll continue supporting microinsurance’
By NATION REPORTER DON’T rush to sell your maize to unscrupulous dealers but wait for right price from government, Pemba District Commissioner Reginald Mugoba has cautioned farmers.
Mr. Mugoba says government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) wants to ensure that the maize crop that has been harvested was secured for strategic food reserves.
"I want to caution you not to rush to sell your maize crop until the
price is right to guarantee a reasonable return for you. You may wish
to know that government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) wants to ensure that the maize crop that has been harvested is secured for strategic food reserves," he said.
Mr. Mugoba was speaking as a guest during the Monze District Agriculture Show held over the weekend under the theme, “Sustainable Economic Development".
He also noted that it was gratifying that the district had continued to enjoy a stable animal health status due to robust disease prevention measures that had been put in place by government.
He said this has seen an increase in livestock populations and milk production especially among small holder livestock farmers.
"I am delighted to note that the district has continued to enjoy a
stable animals health status that has seen a steady rise on livestock
populations and milk production especially among smallholder farmers due to measures such as construction of dip tanks and regular cattle vaccinations being implemented by government to reduce the occurrence and prevention of livestock diseases," said Mr. Mugoba
He further said government would continue to support agriculture across the country through a number of interventions such as the implementation of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), Electronic Voucher Systems. By NATION REPORTER WE will continue supporting the development of micro-insurance and the new national health insurance scheme, Finance Minister, Margaret Mwanakatwe has said
Ms Mwanakatwe has further reiterated government’s commitment in ensuring that the insurance scheme brings many necessary changes to the regulatory environment around insurance provisions. She also said it was government’s desire that the industry engages the public in educating them on the benefits of insurance.Ms Mwanakatwe was speaking in Livingstone in a speech ready on her behalf by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba during the official opening of the annual conference for the Insurance Association of Zambia (IAZ). “As government, our goal is to see the private sector complement these efforts by coming up with innovative customer centric products that will be driven by demand.
“The private sector should also invest in building capacity, so that we have no shortage of requisite experts, in order to provide quality services to every client,” Ms. Mwanakatwe said.
She further congratulated the industry for taking a position to support the Zambia College of Pensions and Insurance Trust (ZCPIT) to enable it offer skills development.