Maravi

Scott advises farmers to ensure quality products

Scott advises farmers to ensure quality products
By Henry Sinyangwe in Lusaka and Cynthia Phiri in Namwala
Mon 22 Oct. 2012, 15:20 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has advised farmers to produce quality products that the hospitality industry can easily purchase and make available to consumers at affordable prices.

And the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has called for policies that will reduce the cost of operations in the agriculture sector to make food more affordable.

In a speech delivered for him by agriculture deputy minister Rodgers Mwewa at the hoteliers and farmers' gala night on Friday dubbed: 'Celebrating 48 years of independence with vision, hard work and unity', Vice-President Scott said the government was putting in place measures aimed at turning around the sector so that more jobs and income could be created.

He said the government would do everything possible to create wealth for its people and ensure that poverty levels were reduced by supporting the agriculture sector.

"We envisage a Zambia which will be able to sustain food security and generate opportunities for employment and create wealth for its citizens through agriculture production," Vice-President Scott said. "Therefore, all of us have a duty to work hard so that together we can achieve our desired goal of creating wealth for the nation and for ourselves."

And ZNFU vice-president, Graham Rae called for transport infrastructure and encouraging public, private investment in appropriate storage facilities in the country.

He said farmers were also worried about the rising cost of labour and the proposed electricity tariffs increases that range from 19 to 37 per cent.

"Farmers in Zambia have also lagged behind because of lack of technology to enhance productivity. Recognising this gap, the ZNFU has been riding on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) revolution to transmit timely information to farmers and have set up communication system for E-market information, the E-transport information and soon to be launched E-extension system," said Rae.

Meanwhile, Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia president Daniel Mweetwa said his organisation was committed to creating appropriate avenues of growth in Zambia in order to realise its vision.
He said the association also had over 650 operators countrywide with a labour force of between 35,000 to 40,000.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Scott has reiterated government's commitment to work with all members of parliament regardless of their political affiliation in order to serve Zambians.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on chief Mungaila of the lla people of Namwala on Saturday, Vice-President Scott said PF believed in working with all the members of parliament.

He said if PF does not work with the opposition, the Zambians would suffer and no one would benefit.

"Our working policy is to work with all MPs. In the House (Parliament) she (UPND Namwala member of parliament Moono Lubezhi) shouts at me trying to make me red by questioning me, but outside the House, we are friends and there is no problem," he said.

Vice-President Scott said the PF had laid a lot of value on chiefs and traditional establishments.

He said that his government was the first ever to have created a ministry of chiefs and traditional affairs because of the importance it attached to the traditional leaders.

"When you have a lot of different problems like cattle diseases, maize marketing, fertiliser input, it is only the local governance that is, the headmen, the chiefs who know the people that can organise these things; it's not us people who live in Lusaka, we don't know who the genuine citizens of Maala are, we are trying to build you up," he explained.

Chief Mukobela of Namwala thanked Vice-President Scott for officiating at this year's Shimunega traditional ceremony.

Labels: GUY SCOTT, QUALITY ASSURANCE, RODGERS MWEWA, ZNFU

posted by MrK @ 3:53 PM