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MAKE AGRICULTURE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY

AN AREA where perhaps Government needs to double its effort is agriculture, which has remained supplicant for decades.

Yet if fully exploited, it can efficaciously and quickly replace the much-talked about mining sector to become the bastion of the economy.

There are presently many cash crops such cashew nuts, cotton, cassava, soy beans, avocadoes, tomatoes, onions and many others waiting to be fully exploited and grow the economy, but they are presently receiving lip service.

For those who may not know it, a tonne of ‘A’ grade of cashew nuts actually fetches more money than a tonne of copper.

But what is happening to this miracle nut which is predominant in Western Province?

On the Copperbelt there are vast bamboo forests which are destroyed by wild fires each year from which Zambia can make exotic furniture for export, not to talk about its shoots which it can export to China as food for humans.

Why agriculture has been mistreated by Governments in past and present is just mind-bending, yet we are impeccably happy to import oranges, tomatoes, bananas, onions and Irish potatoes from South Africa without any sense of infamy.

Who does not know that an increase in agricultural productivity leads to increase in the income of rural populations, which in turn leads to more demand for industrial products, thus development of industrial sectors?

In this way, farmers will greatly help to promote economic growth by turning it into a supplement to the industrial sectors.

We think, therefore, that agriculture plays a crucial role in our economy as it provides the main source of food, income and employment, especially to their rural populations.

However, we think that improvements in agriculture and land use are central to attaining food security, poverty alleviation and overall viable development of any nation.

It is, therefore, imperative for every Zambian to believe that agriculture is the backbone of economic system of any given country especially in the face of increasing population.

We must all admit that it is crucial to improve our agriculture sector because it creates job prospects for the citizens.

Agriculture has been known to be the strength of many developing countries, including Zambia, because it acts as the major source of employment.

So, our political and governance activist Maxson Nkhoma, we think, has appoint in declaring  that Zambia’s agriculture sector should provide support to small, medium and large-scale farmers to enable them to meet the quality demanded by the domestic market.

Mr Nkhoma says he is confident in Zambia’s ability to meet local demand for agricultural produce and products by introducing what he called a quota system.

 “Zambia has the potential and capacity to meet its own demand once the market for agricultural produce and products is guaranteed,” he says

Mr Nkhoma has rightly urged the government to remain firm in its quest to grow the country’s economy through agriculture and the promotion of local products as opposed to foreign imports that today fill up especially our foreign store chain stores.

We agree with Mr Nkhoma with his observation that Government would in the long run benefit from policies in the sector that encourage local producers.

“In turn the government will boost its revenue base through the collection of taxes,” he said.

True, the increase in buying local products by supermarket chains should cheer local producers and motivate them to produce even more and earn more income.

S0, the onus for now is on the ministries of finance, agriculture, commerce, trade and industry to collaborate in creating opportunities for local producers.

The private sector, too, should also build up its efforts to help local farmers meet the standards and quality demanded by super market chains.

It is only after we cognize this fully that we can correctly appreciate that agricultural output helps stimulate economic growth by securing as an appendage to industrial sector.

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