By HELEN ZULU –
SARO Agro Industrial Limited has embarked on a programme to provide small-scale farmers in Northern Province with mechanised farming equipment on credit to boost agriculture performance.
Company managing director Ashok Oza said the mechanised equipment which includes tractors and other farm equipment would be available to farmers in the province as agents had been placed in all the districts
of the province.
He said in Lusaka yesterday that his company was committed to the growth of the agriculture in the province through modern farming equipment.
Oza encouraged farmers to secure loans from National Saving and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) to invest in modern farming equipment.
“We have exposed farmers in Northern Province to tractors and farm equipment through road shows. Farmers will be able to get farming equipment on credit which is extended to them by NATSAVE through the provision of loans,” he said.
Oza said it was difficult for the country to develop in the absence of a farmer, adding that mechanised farming had the ability to improve and increase productivity.
He urged farmers in the province to join the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) so as to access farming equipment.
Sales and service engineer, generator section Samson Lungu said in addition to generators, the company also supplied good quality solar lighting systems, charger inverters, solar batteries, charger controllers and solar geysers.
Mr Lungu urged the public to consider investing in alternative power like solar energy.
He said with the news that load shedding would increase in the country due to low water levels in natural reserves for hydro power generation there was need for the public to invest in alternative power like solar energy.
Saro Agro specialises in farming equipment such as tractors, soil preparation equipment, sprayers, generators and hammer mills among others.
The company produces some of these locally.