Grow own forests, Zambians urged

ZAMBIANS should start establishing forest plantations at household level to increase income and help mitigate the effects of climate change, Zambia Forest and Forestry Industry Corporation (ZAFFICO) managing director, Frighton Sichone has advised.

Mr Sichone said in an interview there was plenty of underutilised land that families could make use of to establish forest plantations.

Mr Sichone said growing trees could be a good source of income for families who entirely depend on smallscale farming for their livelihoods.

Mr Sichone said forest plantations would also help mitigate the effects of climate change which had adversely affected the rain patterns in some parts of the country.

“We are now encouraging forest outrower schemes so that people can start establishing their own forest because once these trees grow the income becomes theirs,” Mr Sichone said.

Mr Sichone encouraged households to own at least one hectare of pine or eucalyptus trees which can be used to produce timber.

And Mr Sichone said ZAFFICO plantation had created more than 10, 000 direct and indirect jobs across the country of which over 1, 300 are in Muchinga Province.

“So far ZAFFICO has created more than over 10, 000 countrywide and we are hoping to create more in the next few years as trees grow as this will bring about industries,” Mr Sichone said.

Mr Sichone said an additional 300 hectares had been cleared in Chieftainess Nawaitwika’s area in Nakonde and that an additional 500 hectares would be cleared in Shiwang’andu in readiness for planting.

Mr Sichone said the corporation targets to establish another forest plantation in Luapula Province next

year.

Mr Sichone said the political will shown by President Lungu would enable the country have a powerful timber industry in the next 10 years.