Zambia: Mpulungu District Commissioner Gehard Sikazwe has announced that the people of the district has to work together to start producing 60,000 metric tonnes of maize. The agriculture stakeholders of the district have to meet this mandate by 2027 to contribute to the national food reserves.
The country is facing a food crisis in several districts,, with many families and communities struggling to get access to food. Accordingly, the government of Zambia has a target of achieving 10 million metric tonnes of strategic food reserves by 2027.
The district commissioner Sikazwe noted that the contributions of the Mpulungu District will help the government in reaching this target. District Commissioner Sikazwe made these remarks during the 2024 Agriculture Tourism and Investment Show in Mpulungu.
The event was hosted under the theme of creating a competitive future for the farmers of the district.
He said government believes that the government of Zambia believes that Agriculture is a key component towards achieving food reserve agenda.
He stated that government has demonstrated a strong will to accelerate rural development by developing the agricultural sector.
District Commissioner Sikazwe explained that government is working constantly for the benefit of the agriculture sector. The government of Zambia has introduced many initiatives to support farmers of the country.
These initiatives include, Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility. This facility covers farmers who are not benefiting from the other agriculture-based support initiatives of the government.
District Commissioner Sikazwe has acknowledged the government’s efforts to support the agricultural facility. He has urged the farmers of the district to sell their produce to government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
He asserted that the government is offering the farmers of the country a good price for their produce.
Meanwhile, Mpulungu District Agriculture Coordinator Blessford Mubanga described the 2024 Mpulungu Agriculture Tourism and Investment show as a success.
The District Commissioner noted that the Food reserve department will continue to work with farmers in order to meet its target. He highlighted that he was delighted to see that several farmers came out to showcase their farm products.