Zambia (Zambezi): More than 125 farmers in the Zambezi District of North Western Province are targeted to benefit from the Sustainable Agriculture Finance Facility (SAFF) loan initiative.
Zambezi District Agricultural Marketing Development Officer Abraham Mwansa said all the applications have been approved, and farmers are ready to redeem their inputs.
Further, Mwansa emphasized that the programme’s core purpose is to enable small and medium-scale farmers and other citizens to access affordable agricultural loans.
Speaking in an interview with media in Zambezi, Marketing Officer Mwansa expressed excitement about the initiative, stating that it is aimed at financing the agriculture sector and will yield positive results in the district.
District Agricultural Coordinator Anos Luvuwa urged public service workers to engage in agricultural activities by taking advantage of the public service agriculture loan scheme.
Agriculture Coordinator Luvuwa emphasized that public service workers should not rely on Farmers under the Farming Input Support Programme (FISP) to sell them inputs; rather, they should apply for a loan under the public service agricultural loan schemes.
He also noted that the introduction of the scheme clearly indicates the government’s continued commitment to increasing food security in the country.
The DACO further cautioned local agro-dealers under SAFF to supply quality inputs to ensure the programme achieves its intended purpose.
Last year, President Hakainde Hichilema announced the introduction of a loan facility to enable public service workers to acquire agricultural equipment and inputs through a loan product with favourable rates.
The President’s vision is to see public service workers engage in agricultural activity, thereby contributing to household and national food security.
Furthermore, the government introduced the sustainable agriculture financing facility credit window, an initiative intended to support and promote sustainable agriculture practices by providing accessible loans to farmers, especially small and medium-scale farmers.