Chitowo describes 2008 agricultural growth as sluggish

Chitowo describes 2008 agricultural growth as sluggish
Written by Florence Bupe in Livingstone
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:37:22 AM

AGRICULTURE minister Dr Brian Chituwo yesterday said the government wants the agriculture sector to take centre stage and become the largest contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

In a speech read on his behalf by agriculture permanent secretary Bernard Namachila at the Africa Agricultural Markets Programme (AAMP) Fertiliser Symposium yesterday, which is being held under the theme ‘Getting Fertilisers to Farmers: How to do it, Who should do it and why it should be done’, Dr Chituwo observed that the agricultural sector remained a major contributor to economic growth.

“In 2008, the agricultural sector’s share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 19.3 per cent,” he said.

Dr Chituwo, however, lamented the underdevelopment of the Zambian agricultural sector, noting that there had been no significant growth recorded over the last few years.

“The sector has been stagnant over the last few years. Even though the economy grew at six per cent in 2008, the agricultural sector’s growth was sluggish,” he said.

Dr Chituwo stressed the need to develop the agricultural sector as it was the mainstay of the majority of countries in eastern and southern Africa.

And Comesa secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya has observed that high levels of marketing costs and risks were inhibiting the emergence and expansion of effective sector services.

He noted that broad-based agricultural growth was necessary for economic stimulation.

“Agriculture in Comesa is the engine for economic development. In order to stimulate economic growth, overcome poverty and enhance food security, broad-based agricultural growth is necessary,” Ngwenya said. “Yet agricultural output and input markets are struggling in many countries of the region.”

Ngwenya observed that sub-Saharan Africa still had the lowest fertiliser application rates.

“Although fertiliser use is rising, the pace is still sluggish. The challenge of accelerating fertiliser use requires a holistic approach,” Ngwenya said. “Actions outside fertiliser marketing are vital to expanded fertiliser use.”

Ngwenya further expressed concern at the continued high expense of the region on food imports despite the available resources.

“The Comesa region has vast agricultural land and abundant water, yet the region spends an annual average of US $19 billion on food imports. This situation must be reversed through increased spending on infrastructure and support to farmers and input firms,” said Ngwenya.