Luswishi farm bloc on course on CB

LUSWISHI farm bloc in Lufwanyama will be an agricultural showpiece which will contribute effectively to the diversification of the Copperbelt economy, District Commissioner Miniver Mutesa has said.

She said the project was on course.

Ms Mutesa said the Luswishi farm bloc would be rolled out into a bigger project which will contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in the peri-urban area of the Copperbelt.

In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Ms Mutesa said the project was being funded by the World Bank and executed by the Tahal Group of Companies which was doing a similar project in Angola.

"I can assure you that Luswishi will be an agricultural showpiece not only for the Copperbelt, but the entire Zambia. You will see for yourself in the few years to come. Those who want to argue, they will be proved wrong.

"The project is being executed by Tahal Group of Companies which is doing a similar project in Angola. If it can work out in Angola, why can't it work out here in Zambia,'' Ms Mutesa said.

Mr Mutesa said the government was putting in place infrastructure like roads and electricity under the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to support the development of the agriculture in the area. The Dc said Government's decision to develop a farm bloc in the area was aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, alleviating poverty, food security and exploiting the agricultural potential of the district. She said the agricultural potential of Lufwanyama had remained untapped for a long time and so it was time agriculture was fully exploited.

Government has embarked on another multi-million project irrigation scheme in Musakashi area of Mufulira to ensure increased food production and poverty alleviation.

The Musakashi is an Irrigation Development Support Programme under the Ministry of Agriculture aimed at contributing to food security, poverty alleviation and job creation in Mufulira and other parts of the Copperbelt.