(TIMES ZM) Veep flags off seed distribution
Veep flags off seed distributionDecember 21, 2012
By KASONDE KASONDE -
VICE-President Guy Scott has said 90,000 hectares of maize have been ravaged by army worms out of the total 300,000 hectares countrywide.
Dr Scott said this in Chisamba yesterday when he flagged off the distribution of 360 tonnes of maize seed to commence the re-planting exercise.
The vice-president described the army worms attack as the worst damage to the agriculture sector.
He called on farmers that were receiving the maize seed for re-planting to ensure that it was used for the intended purpose.
The Government, he said, was using taxpayers’ money to purchase the maize seed and cautioned farmers against selling the input.
Dr Scott said 90,000 hectares of maize had been affected in seven provinces in the country.
The Government has already spent more than K15 billion towards the purchase of the input for the affected farmers.
Meanwhile, Disaster Management Mitigation Unit national coordinator Patrick Kangwa said 360 tonnes of maize seed was for Chibombo while 2,000 tonnes had been bought for the seven provinces.
He said of the seven regions that had been hit, Eastern Province was the worst affected followed by Central Province.
Agriculture Minister Emmanuel Chenda and Central Province Minister Phillip Kosamu witnessed the ceremony.
posted by MrK @ 5:51 PM
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