700 extension officers to be recruited

in Monze. GOVERNMENT is expected to recruit 700 agriculture extension officers to improve service delivery across all areas of agriculture, President Edgar Lungu has said.

And minister of Agriculture, Dora Siliya announced that government would next week empower about 1 million farmers across the country with K1700 each under the e-voucher programme.

President Lungu also emphasized the need for farmers to take the diversification agenda seriously, add value to produce so that they could tap into the export market.

The President said this in Monze yesterday during the flagging off ceremony for the 2017/2018 planting season.

President Lungu implored the Ministry of Agriculture to expedite the distribution of farming inputs so that farmers can produce within the required period.

He further expressed disappointment that agricultural production had declined in Southern province, which over the years had topped the list with regards to production.

President Lungu assured that the recruitment of more extension officers, crop diversification and right methods of farming would boost agricultural production in the country.

"Sound agricultural practices, diversified approaches to dealing with climate change, crop diversity will boost production. So farmers should add value to their produces to export. I would also like to see the distribution of farming inputs expedited," he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Siliya said that government would by next week distribute about K1.7 billion among 1 million farmers across the country. She said that government would also ensure that there were no irregularities in the distribution of farming inputs this farming season.