Bumper harvest cheers South minister
SOUTHERN Province Minister Dr. Edify Hamukale has paid glowing tribute to the agricultural stakeholders in the province for registering a bumper harvest of 470,000 metric tonnes of maize in 2019/2020 agriculture sector.
Dr. Hamukale said he was proud to inform the nation and Southern province in particular that the province produced 65,000 metric tonnes during the 2018/2019 season adding that the bumper harvest registered during the 2019/2020 season of 470,000 metric tonnes represents an increase of 700 per cent.
The minister was speaking when he addressed farmers and agro-dealers at the Zambia National Farmers Union Conference room in Choma.
Dr. Hamukale noted that Southern Province has a potential of 750,000 metric tonnes of maize grain but was quick to note that the bumper harvest of 700 per cent increase registered was quite huge.
He praised the agricultural stakeholders that included farmers, ministry of Agriculture, agro-dealers, fertilizer suppliers and seed companies among others for contributing to the bumper harvest.
Dr. Hamukale further said the maize purchase target has been increased from 250,000 metric tonnes to 500,000 metric tonnes and now to one million metric tonnes.
He stated that the increase in the maize purchase target by government is an in indication that more resources are been channelled to the agriculture sector.
The Provincial minister pointed out that the future looks bright for the agriculture sector and government is committed to ensure that the agriculture is made a vibrant sector to contribute to the economy.
Dr. Hamukale said this year the Food Reserve Agency will purchase 105,000 metric tonnes of maize grain in Southern Province and there is a storage capacity of 157,000 metric tonnes.
He stressed that this year government will buy a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at K110 which he described as a good price.
Dr. Hamukale said 160,000 farmers in the province benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) by acquiring inputs such as fertilizer and seed among others. - NAIS