Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Retrenched miners urged to venture into agriculture

COMMENT I - Obviously, it is not enough to 'urge' fired miners to take up agriculture. The obligation is on the government, to provide a comprehensive plan and execution of an agricultural revolution in Zambia. Infrastructure, support services, training, capital goods. This is not expensive, but it needs the level of coordination only government can supply. Forget all the bad things you heard about Zimbabwe, and take a good hard look at their agricultural policies, which include land redistribution, tractorisation and mechanisation. Laissez faire doesn't cut it.

Retrenched miners urged to venture into agriculture
Saturday, May 30, 2009, 21:26

Agriculture minister Brian Chituwo (second from l) and his counterpart from mines Maxwell Mwale (second from r) inspect some goods at the Copperbelt mining and agriculture commercial show in Kitwe.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Brian Chituwo has urged retrenched miners on the Copperbelt to venture into agriculture which he said was one of the most profitable and sustainable businesses in the country. He was speaking at the Kitwe show grounds earlier today.

Dr. Chituwo said retrenched miners should not despair but take life’s challenges head on by engaging in small and large scale farming.

He further disclosed that some mining companies have requested his ministry to provide land where former miners could grow crops.

Dr. Chituwo said the ministry of Agriculture has since started exploring some pieces of land and advised former miners to take advantage of this in order to mitigate the effects of the global economic recession.

Dr.Chituwo also said the country had the capacity to produce different types of crops on a larger scale.

He said the country could use the global recession to its benefits by engaging in commercial production of crops such as cassava, groundnuts and beans.

He added that there was need to encourage mass production of certain crops that grow well in certain parts of the country, citing rice and groundnuts in Western and Eastern provinces respectively.

He further said there was need to identify crops with certain areas and regions of the country in order to effectively improve in the production of those particular crops.

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COMMENT II:

For an understanding of the Zimbabwean approach:

(HERALD) Government buys 3 500 more tractors
By Innocent Ruwende

GOVERNMENT has bought 3 500 more tractors under the agriculture mechanisation programme and they are expected in the country over the next six months. Part of the consignment is due before the onset of the rains and will be used in the forthcoming summer cropping season.

The Minister of State for Agriculture Engineering, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Cde Joseph Made, said measures had been put in place to ensure that there would be no defective tractors.

"The country will receive at total of 3 500 tractors from different countries within the next six months. As we prepare for the farming season, we want to make sure that we have all the machinery needed,’’ said Cde Made.

"We are very happy that we are getting tractors of well-known brands, but we are warning companies that we are strengthening our inspection on all products. We will not leave any stone unturned as we want the best products for our farmers. We want to make sure that we will get the products we asked for. Companies supplying the tractors and other farming equipment risk losing business if they supply defective products."

Earlier in the day, Cde Made met Malaysian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Cheah Choong Kit, who reaffirmed his country’s commitment to providing and servicing agriculture implements for Zimbabwe. Cde Made said they discussed ways in which Malaysia could help Zimbabwe boost its cotton production.

"There is need for farmers to venture into cotton production as we are in high need of the crop. Cotton must be grown side by side with food crops where possible. Cotton is useful for edible oil and its by-products are used to feed cattle, so in way we can improve our national herd," he said.

The minister stressed the need to grow food crops to save foreign currency spent in importing maize.

On Monday, Cde Made met Algerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Ali Mokani.

"In our discussions we were finding ways in which Algeria can help Zimbabwe in the field of irrigation. In Africa, Algeria and Egypt produce the best agriculture machinery and equipment.

"We also want to learn from the Algerians on water application. They have desert conditions in their country but they do have good irrigation schemes, so we want to learn their methods even though we have better rainfall in Zimbabwe,’’ he said.

Cde Made said he had faith in the suitability and durability of Algerian-manufactured farming machinery, particularly tractors.

His office was setting up a division to focus on engineering and mechanisation with training and extension services.

"The equipment we are receiving is worth trillions of dollars and needs good service and maintenance.

"We are going to open maintenance centres countrywide to make sure that the machinery is well taken care of. We need part of our staff to learn what other countries have done,’’ he said.


(HERALD) 1 000 more tractors expected from China

A CONSIGNMENT of 1 000 more tractors and an assortment of other related farming implements worth US$100 million from China is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe in three months’ time. The implements, which include combine harvesters, irrigation pumps, disc harrows, planters and electricity generators, among others, went onto the sea last week, after undergoing compliance inspection tests from a team of Zimbabwean Government officials.

(HERALD) ‘Mechanisation to focus on irrigation’
(added to this blog, on: Friday, July 04, 2008)

Labels: AGRICULTURE, BRIAN CHITUWO, JOBLOSSES, MINERS

posted by MrK @ 4:10 PM