Open up rural areas - farmers
GOVERNMENT should unlock the potential of small scale farmers by improving the feeder road network in rural areas, Zambia Alliance of Women (ZAW) Executive Director Edah Chimya has said.
Recently, President Edgar Lungu urged chain stores to priorities local agricultural products in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, which has triggered closure of borders.
Ms Chimya said improved feeder road network was not only a catalyst for rural development but also national economic growth as it would open farmers to ready markets in urban area.
She said Government should work on the road network to enable farmers transport their produce to the reedy market.
Ms Chimya said rural farmers had a lot of potential that should be unlocked to contribute to national development and improve both household and national food security.
She also bemoaned lack of water irrigation schemes in some parts of the country that had continued hindering farmers from producing enough for household and national consumption.
Ms Chimya also appealed to Government to improve health care services in rural areas in order to reduce maternal deaths which she said was on rise.
And Rural Women Assembly(RWA), Mumbwa area focal person Mary Sakala appealed to Government to promote value addition to farm produce.
Ms Sakala called for capacity building for women farmers, empowerment initiatives and investments through provision of farming equipment.