Farming can be bigger than mining in export earnings - Chitimukulu
THE agriculture sector has potential to overtake mining in earnings because of the arable land and weather patterns that the country, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has said
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said government's efforts to diversify the economy away from mining to agriculture, manufacturing and tourism must be supported as this was the only way to develop the country.
The traditional leader said this when Zambia's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba paid a courtesy call on him in Mungwi yesterday.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said efforts being made to diversify the economy must rely on available resources the country had, such as land, water and the favorable weather pattern.
He said Agriculture should be developed as it was also a mass-employer and the sector had the capacity to anchor the economy.
The Paramount Chief said he had welcomed the Cassava project and called on all stakeholders such as Chifwani Concepts to support
rural and small-scale farmers to produce more of the crop to enhance livelihoods.
He said Chifwani Concepts should adopt best practices from similar and previous projects.
He said the concept was different as it assured reliable income for the small-scale farmers since the promoters had signed off-take agreements with manufacturers.
And Mr. Mwamba expressed gratitude for the valuable support he was receiving from Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and other traditional authorities in Northern Province.
Mr. Mwamba as promoter of the project took time to update His Royal Highness, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga II about the progress that had been made regarding the Cassava Project.
Chifwani Concepts is promoting the rapid scaling-up of cassava farming and the use of the cash crop as a reliable income-generating and economic activity for rural communities following the rising demand for the crop for industrial and commercial use.