NOEL IYOMBWA writes
@SunZambian
MPIKA can be one of the top milk producing districts in Zambia if farmers work together with different stakeholders, says member of Mpika Dairy Cooperative Alfred Soka.
Colonel Soka said unlike the perception by many people have, that Mpika was not a cattle rearing district, there was need for farmers to link up with stakeholders so that the milk industry in the district flourished.
Speaking when Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock toured the cooperative, Col Soka said Mpika has dairy farmers who had the potential to contribute to the milk production in Zambia.
Col Soka said that the only way to alleviate poverty was to engage in different farming activities such as dairy farming.
He commended government for putting up milk processing equipment in the province, adding that the move would encourage more farmers to engage in dairy farming.
DAZ recently toured dairy cooperatives that received milk processing equipment support from government in Mpika, Kasama and Mbala districts in an effort to expand its operations in the said areas.
DAZ board chairperson Miriam Mbazima advised more farmers to take interest in dairy farming to help in alleviating poverty.
She said having lobbied government for support in terms of infrastructure development and equipment the association learnt that the State has installed dairy equipment hence its interest to inspect the equipment.
