Agriculture and livestock

Dear Editor,

THE government should know that to develop the country we should remember that Zambia is an agricultural country as most areas have good water supply and fertiliser.

We have enough fertile land and good rainfall pattern so we can feed the entire southern and central Africa. Government through the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock should invest more. As a nation we can make money in agriculture and livestock than we can make on copper.

The other thing we have to look at is crop diversification. Crop diversification, once fully maximised will contribute positively to the wealth creation and boost people’s livelihood with addition to other crop that have the potential to generate income and stimulate development.

AGRCULTURE

Maize is one of the major crops grown in Zambia, but need other crops to be recognised as well. Other crops that we need to focus more are millet, sorghum, rice, beans, soya beans, nuts, wheat and cassava.

Zambia has the potential not only to attain the lasting food security but to become a regional agriculture hub and global exporter of processed agricultural products.

Agriculture presently contributes 15 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore agriculture remains vital to employment and rural livelihoods as 70 percent of Zambia’s labour force works in agriculture.

That’s why the Ministry of Agriculture need to encourage the farmers to grow more food. The Lima credit programme started by ZNFU in partnership with Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) to address issues affecting small-scale farmers whose particular challenges includes, loans, fertiliser and improved seeds for the farm produce should be encouraged in all provinces.

The other one is Lima Chuma which means

“Cultivating Prosperity” is a holistic programme designed to empower our rural farmers in Zambia.

LIVESTOCK

The livestock sector needs only two things to surpass crop production. Firstly disease prevention and secondly the fight against stock theft should be taken seriously. Government ahould consider revising some policies in the livestock sector that negatively affect the country’s capacity to export to the regional markets.

Addressing such policies will enable easy access to veterinary services among livestock farmers. The old policies in livestock have resulted in farmers suffering from escalating cost of vaccines and poor access to veterinary services translating in reduced livestock.

The disease situation in Zambia has led to limited export opportunities there by reducing the potential contribution to foreign exchange. Livestock farmers in Zambia require support by putting in place appropriate and sustainable policies, support services, functional institutional are regulatory framework to increase livestock productively and quality of life through production.

1) Problems that hinder commercial beef production in Zambia.

(a) Most traditional farmers keep animals for prestige and they are reluctant to sell.

(b) Poor quality meat because the quality is not controlled.

(c) Poor cattle management leading to over grazing in disease infected areas.

(d) Most cattle farmers stay very far from the market centres.

2) There are two measures that should be taken by the government and cooperating partners to improve beef production and supply in Zambia.

(a) Educating farmers on the importance of quality rather than quantity.

(b) Veterinary officers should start going to assisticattle owners and attending to animals.

(c) Provision of markets and cold storage such as Zambeef and Kachema Suppliers.

KENNEDY MUNYEMESHA.