Maravi

Subsidized fertiliser not adequate for Zambia’s large population- RB

COMMENT - WHAT???? Banda is blaming the failure of neoliberalism on Zambia's population? I'm sorry, but he really has no clue. He needs to start talking to some serious experts on agricultural development, after he does whatever is possible to secure the food supply. At 11 million, Zambia has a tiny population with HUGE swathes of undeveloped agricultural land and plenty of water resources. People must start working the land, and bring in harvests before the food runs out. Small scale farmers must get a little education about alterntatives to chemical fertilizer so they can become selfsufficient (worm castings, manures, composting and green manure plants like legumes which fix naturally occurring fertilizer in the soil).

Subsidized fertiliser not adequate for Zambia’s large population- RB
December 16, 2008

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has observed that countries that imported fertilizer early enough were able to procure it at a cheaper price. The president said the price of the commodity had risen by the time government had procured it. He was speaking on a live radio program on radio Breeze FM in Chipata district.

Mr. Banda stated that it was not possible for all farmers to benefit the commodity at a subsidized price saying the population of Zambia was too high.

Mr. Banda explained that people would be required to buy fertilizer at the common market if the subsidized fertilizer was not adequate because the population of the country was high.

He also appealed to farmers not to sell subsidized farming inputs for monetary gains. He stated that the program was intended to improve food security in the country by assisting farmers to produce more food.

President Banda also noted that there was no need to regulate the media if they could operate responsibly.

Speaking on radio Breeze FM in Chipata district, Mr Banda said the media did not need to be regulated if they could write and publish the truth all the time.

He expressed concern that some sectors of the media did not cover the October elections very well. President Banda stated that the media required to be factual and objective in their coverage, in a manner which he referred to as professional.

President Banda said the K10 Billion required for the completion of the Chipata/Mchinji railway line may be considered in next year’s budget. [If there is a next year - MrK]

Mr. Banda stated that it was the intention of government to see the completion of the rail line, which was intended to boost economic activities in the province.

He stated that he was aware that people in the province were anxious to see the project completed.

ENDS/HN/PK/ZANIS

Labels: BREEZE FM, FERTILIZER, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 10:42 PM