AFRICA CAUTIONED ON FOOD AID

The African continent has been challenged the reverse the trend of depending on food aid when it can produce sufficient food stocks on its own.

The Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry –ZACCI- has outlined that its embarrassing that Africa continues to receive aid for food when it has the world’s largest natural resources that can produce sufficient food.

ZACCI President Geoffrey Sakulanda has told the CEO club breakfast meeting that the trend must come to an end through investments and subsequent industrial development.

Mr Sakulanda has stated that it is important that matters that can help in enhancing food security among them being infrastructure.

He has added that diversification is important for Zambia where food production is concerned although adjustments in policies, strategies and implementation must be dealt with.

He also expressed concern with the poor storage facilities that he says have eroded Zambia’s food security levels despite the good production as observed in the huge crop over the last several years.

And officiating at the meeting, Agriculture Minister Eustarkio Kazonga said the ministry has devised strategies aimed at ensuring that Zambia is food secure.

Dr Kazonga noted that among the initiatives being undertaken are the Farmer Input Support Program-FISP-, Conservation agriculture, irrigation development as well as farm block development.

He urged the private sector to invest highly in the agriculture sector that he says has the ability to contribute to the country’s GDP earnings.

He has noted that the farming blocks being developed will also give reasonable consideration to local investors.

Dr Kazonga says once the Nansanga Farming block has secured investment, similar developments will take place in other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the 3.6 billion kwacha findings of the crop forecast survey of the 2010/2011 farming season are expected to be released in the course of May 2011.

Agriculture Minister Eustarkio Kazonga has observed that the exercise is too long hence the delays in the announcement of the forecast.

Dr Kazonga has nonetheless outlined that the ministry is optimistic of good yields as the diversification aspect of the government backed farmer Input Support Program will come to realization.

Ends……dry