250 farmers get relief packages
THE Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has distributed Covid-19 finance relief packages to 250 smallscale farmers in Choma and Kalomo districts.
This has been done with support from the Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) which together with CTPD yesterday handed over a cheque worth K292, 500.00.
Women-owned businesses are predominantly vulnerable to shocks, as they are disproportionately informal and operate in less-profitable sectors.
CTPD is looking forward to working with the farmers so that we can have successful women entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector,’’ Mr Mwaipopo said.
According to CTPD, the funds are meant to cushion the impact of Covid-19 on the vulnerable women farmers in the two districts.
Women-owned businesses are predominantly vulnerable to shocks, as they are disproportionately informal and operate in less-profitable sectors.
CTPD
Executive
Director,
Isaac Mwaipopo, said providing critical liquidity and other buffers against shocks could help protect women owned businesses from collapse due the effects of Covid-19.
“CTPD is looking forward to working with the farmers so that we can have successful women entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector,’’ Mr Mwaipopo said.
Choma District Commissioner, Protacial Mulenga, graced the occasion and pledged to support the women farmers with land as a way of encouraging agriculture diversification among them.
“I am glad to note that the women are interested in agriculture diversification and as such Government is willing to provide idle land for agricultural activities, ‘’ Mr Mulenga said.
Earlier, Choma Fish Farmers Chairperson, Catherine Mwangala, committed to ensure that the group utilised the funds for intended purpose.
“As Choma Women fish farmers we have already divided ourselves in groups and we will be engaging in fish farming, livestock farming and poultry farming’’, She said.
The Covid-19 pandemic has heavily affected the livelihoods, socio-economic stability, and the security of many families globally.
In 2018, CTPD with the support from OSISA launched a project themed “promote small-scale farmers access to finance and markets in Zambia.’’
CTPD is currently implementing phase 2 of the project which is focused on providing financial relief to vulnerable women especially small-scale farmers (SSF) in rural parts of Zambia. The project also seeks to raise public awareness and debate on the economic and gender effects of Covid-19 in Zambia.