MUMENA CALLS FOR CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Mumena calls for crop diversification

The Sun Reporter writes
@SunZambian

CHIEF Mumena of Kalumbila district has urged small-scale farmers to diversify their crop production, as a way of making agriculture become the mainstay of the economy.

He said with the timely delivery of inputs in the previous seasons, it was easier for people to venture into agriculture and practice crop diversification.

The traditional leader said this at his palace at the weekend when Nyimba Investments Head-Sales and Marketing Willes Mulendema paid a courtesy call on him.

“There is a need for diversification of crops to enable agriculture become the mainstay of the economy. If you had a meal today thank the farmer and thank those that support the farmer such as Nyimba Investments,” he said.

He said Kalumbila and the entire North-western province had received fertiliser way ahead of the planting season.

Chief Mumena said he was particularly happy that the Government had contracted Nyimba as the suppliers for the province and that the move had resulted in the revamping of agriculture.

“I am proud of what Nyimba Investments is doing and it’s been a game changer. Ever since they came into the game, they have changed things. They have done the same this year and they did the same last season,” he said.

The traditional leader said the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) has contributed towards the reduction of poverty at household levels.He implored other companies that had been engaged to supply seed to supply and deliver early.

“At some point the harvest was not good because of the quality of the seed by the suppliers. The suppliers should ensure that they supply quality seed and they should provide the seed on time,” he said.

Mr Mulendema said Nyimba was happy to report to the traditional leadership that the company has completed its deliveries for the North-western province.

He said the company would only await the Government to flag off the distribution so that the farmers could access the inputs way ahead of the planting season.

“On our side everything is ready and is in the warehouses here in the province and we hope that the Government can flag off the distribution,” he said.