Maravi

Growing population a challenge to food and nutrition – Chituwo

COMMENT - What a mediocrity. Chituwo does not think that developing the country or agriculture would solve all these issues. Instead, the blames the size of Zambia's population, which is very modest to begin with. Most arable land is not under cultivation, so he blames... the people? The MMD has run out of ideas long ago, but now they are getting dangerous.

Growing population a challenge to food and nutrition – Chituwo
Written by Nchima Nchito Jr

AGRICULTURE minister Brian Chituwo has said Zambia is experiencing serious challenges to food and nutrition largely on account of a rapidly growing population, coupled with increasing costs of agricultural production.

During the inaugural National Agricultural Symposium held in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Chituwo said as a nation, Zambia was able to respond to some of the food and nutrition challenges, but noted that the natural occurrences such as climate variability were confounding.

“At the same time, there is an emerging competing interest between food and fuel production as food grain is being used for bio-energy while agricultural land is being converted for use to produce bio-fuel crops,” he said.

“There is no doubt that we need to meet the increasing energy demands brought about by a more affluent society and seemingly increasing industrialisation. But where do we draw the line?”

Chituwo hoped the symposium could go beyond just discussions and provide solutions to the many challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the country.

And Chituwo revealed that the review of the fertiliser support programme (FSP) had been concluded, as directed by President Rupiah Banda.

He said the report of the review of the FSP had been presented to Cabinet for debate.

Chituwo said it was clear that a well intended programme seemed not to have performed to the expectations of the various stakeholders mainly due to decentralisation and the formation of cooperatives without following specific guidelines.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, BRIAN CHITUWO

posted by MrK @ 3:59 PM