GOVT WON’T BE DISSUADED OVER ALLOCATION OF 20, 000 HECTARES TO KENYANS

AGRICULTURE Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri, has said Government will not be dissuaded by criticisms following the decision to allocate Kenya 20, 000 hectares for large scale farming.

Mr Phiri has therefore indicated that Zambian farmers will next week meet to identify qualified farmers who will take part in the winter maize initiative to support Kenya’s need of one million metric tonnes of maize.

He said Government would not be dissuaded from attracting foreign direct investment.

A few days ago, Mr Phiri held talks with the Kenyan Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi over the signing of a memorandum of understanding to allocate Kenyan farmers 20, 000 hectors of land for large scale farming.

This news has however not been received well by local farmers.

Responding to the criticisms, Mr Phiri said the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) will next week hold a meeting with farmers to discuss the way forward.

He said this yesterday in Lusaka at the ZANACO and European Investment Bank 30 million Euros facility milestone function.

Mr Phiri warned that Government would not be discouraged to take up such initiatives as they encouraged foreign direct investment in the agriculture sector.

He however pointed out that Government would not leave out Zambians without land.

“When you hear that the agriculture minister has given huge chunk of land to Kenya and other countries, read in between the lines, it should not be misinterpreted. What we are doing across the glove inviting those who can come and farm in our country and utilise the land which we have in our country.

“We want them to utilise the water that we have and good soils. So let us look at the positive side, we should not shoot ourselves in the feet by denying other people who can come and invest. So we will not be dissuaded from that path. will not stop and be swayed off,” Mr Phiri said.

He said giving out huge chunk of land to Kenya or other countries should not be misinterpreted as Government was only inviting investment.

Mr Phiri stated that Kenya was in need of one million metric tonnes of maize immediately which could not be produced by local small scale farmers “We had the minister for agriculture from Kenya coming in a few days ago and one of the critical issues that we discussed is that they are looking for one million metric tonnes of maize immediately, we are not able as a small scale farmers to produce this maize we will rely on the commercial farmers to do their part, to switch on their centr pivots and meet this open effective demand.

“I can assure you that as you meet next week, the price will not be less than US$300 per tonne and that should be good for you. For our country to maximise the benefits from trade, government should support development of critical value addition in the sector,” he said.