• Emma Justine
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Farmers in the country have been encouraged to venture into early planting of seeds in the fourth coming 2019/2020 farming season. Small Scale Farmers’ Development Agency (SAFADA) Executive Director Boyd Moobwe says that with the rain forecast released yesterday, farmers should now consider planting drought-resistant and early maturing seed varieties. Mr Moobwe explained that in the wake of...

• Emma Justine
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Momboshi, Lusitu and Musakashi are now household names synonymous with the irrigation subject in Zambia. This is because of the programme of constructing of irrigation schemes in the three sites located in Chisamba, Chirundu and Mufulira districts respectively. Zambia’s agriculture sector is set for a major boost once the construction of the irrigation schemes in the three districts...

• Emma Justine
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Zambia has launched the US $26m Chiansi Irrigation Scheme in Kafue District, 41KM south of Capital Lusaka in a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the region. The project aims to complement Chanyanya Project which was successfully implemented in 2008 at Kafue district. Chanyanya pooled smallholders land to establish an irrigation infrastructure for a 148ha commercial farm...

• Emma Justine
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THE Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) is in discussion with Government on the possibility of setting up a mechanisation fund to help small-scale farmers embrace modern ways of farming. ZNFU president Jervis Zimba said agricultural mechanisation is key in the enhancement of sustainable food production, and poverty alleviation in the country.http://epaper.daily-mail.co.zm/ By ESTHER MSETEKA, Lusaka read more

• Emma Justine
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OVER 14,000 smallholder farmers will be able to produce various crops throughout the year through irrigation once the US$200 million irrigation project is completed. Government, through the support from the World Bank, is developing irrigation facilities in Central, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces under a project called Irrigation Development http://epaper.daily-mail.co.zm/  

• Emma Justine
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Government has assured farmers that they will start accessing farming inputs on time on 1st September, 2019/2020 to enable them plant early. Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo disclosed yesterday during the National harvest day held at Mababe Farms in Mumbwa district in Central Province. “We are on course for the 2019/2020 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and we have...

• Emma Justine
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President Edgar Lungu says time has come for Zambia to transform the agriculture sector for the benefit of the people. President Lungu has noted that Zambia has potential not just to feed its people through the agricultural sector but Africa as a whole. The Head of State has further stated that there is need to take pragmatic action...

• Emma Justine
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Mary Sakala, smallholder farmer leader from ESAFF-Zambia was formally invited by the United Nations to give a formal presentation at UNFCCC climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany on 19th June 2019. She was nominated as a speaker by ActionAid International, and a wide range of NGOs representing the environment, farmers, gender constituency and indigenous peoples supported her nomination. Mary...

• Emma Justine
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MAIZE has continued to be Zambia’s staple crop for many years. The crop has been a major source of food for many households from time immemorial. But this dependence on maize as a staple crop for the country has come with a lot of challenges in the recent past. Issues of climate change and the ever-increasing price of...

• Emma Justine
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Co-ops hold the possibility of transforming the agricultural life and business of small-scale farmers across the region, but the farmers themselves must take responsibility for setting up co-ops and for keeping them relevant to farmer needs. “Once the co-op is formed, members can begin to push their agendas,” said Kingsley. Organised farmer groups have the power to influence...