Maravi

Africans must feed themselves - Mogae

Africans must feed themselves - Mogae
By Joan Chirwa and Kabanda Chulu
Friday August 03, 2007 [04:00]

BOTSWANA’S President Festus Mogae has said African countries must continue to feed themselves and others with food deficits in order to enhance regional co-operation. And President Levy Mwanawasa has expressed sadness at the manner in which the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was conducting the crop marketing exercise which officially opened on June 1.

Speaking to journalists after he toured selected stands at the on-going 81st Agricultural and Commercial Show under the theme ‘Economic Empowerment,’ President Mogae said Zambia had a comparative advantage in agricultural production owing to its conducive environment for various agricultural activities.

President Mogae was the guest of honour at this year’s Agricultural and Commercial Show which opened its gates to the public yesterday and runs until next Monday.
“I am very impressed by the show and all that the exhibitors have done. Africans have to feed themselves,” President Mogae said. “It is important that Zambia continues producing, looking at its comparative advantage, so that we can continue to feed those nations with food deficits. We need to feed each other like we are trading among each other in the region.”

And President Mwanawasa, who also toured some stands yesterday morning, expressed his disappointment at the slow pace at which FRA was moving in purchasing maize from the farmers across the country.

“I am not entirely happy with the way FRA is purchasing maize and I urge them to double their efforts because agriculture should become the mainstay of our economy,” President Mwanawasa said.

As at July 27, 2007, the FRA had purchased about 131,000 metric tonnes of maize against their target of 400,000 metric tonnes by September 30 this year.
President Mwanawasa further said Zesco Limited had been facing numerous challenges in electricity generation and hoped the current rehabilitation works would minimise the looming power deficit in the region.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, BOTSWANA, FRA

posted by MrK @ 4:50 AM