EU, Germany stake K320m grant

THE European Union (EU) and the German Technical Cooperation (GiZ) have signed two agreements worth K320 million to improve public financial management in Zambia.

Under the agreement, the financial assistance would also be used to establish irrigation systems for smallholder farmers in lower Kafue area.

The EU would provide grant financing for a total amount of 20 million Euros which is K270 million and 3.5 million Euros supplemented by the Germany government.

European Union ambassador to Zambia and Comesa, Alessandro Mariani, said the irrigation and water management programme was an essential component of a broader EU initiate to promote the sustainable commercialisation of Zambia’s smallholder farmers.

He said this during the signing ceremony in Lusaka.

Mr Mariani said the two agreements would also contribute to the improvement of the planning, budgeting and budget implementation processes in Zambia.

The agreements, he said, would also support Zambia Revenue Authority to modernise revenue collection.

Mr Mariani added that the programme would foster linkages between agriculture and water management in order to enforce the water agriculture nexus.

He stated that the programme would address challenges and promote the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social warfare.

And German ambassador to Zambia Achim Burkat said his country would contribute K850 million to the Zambian government and the programme would commerce next year up to 2020.