By JAMES KUNDA –

THE Government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have launched a project aimed at boosting rice production in Northern and Muchinga provinces.
The project targets small and medium-scale farmers and will be implemented in Kasama and Mungwi districts of Northern Province and Chinsali in Muchinga Province.
The National Food Balance for Zambia for the 2015/2016 Agricultural Marketing Season estimates a deficit of 35,000 tonnes of the crop for 2015.
The launch of the scheme was graced by Agriculture and Livestock Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa and FAO assistant representative for programmes Gregory Chilufya.
This is according to a statement released yesterday by FAO communications and reports office.
Mr Shawa said the Government would provide the necessary support required towards a successful implementation of the two year-project.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has realised the growing importance of rice hence prioritised it as one of the major food crops under the government crop diversification strategy,” he said.
Mr Chilufya on the other hand emphasised the need to ensure that the rice value chain continued to grow and make contributions of economic and food nutrition security nature in the country.
The strengthening rice seed production and enhancing extension services to increase rice production in Zambia’ project, aimed at targeting small and medium scale farmers, will provide technology packages for learning.
The targeted minimum of 40 per cent of the beneficiaries to be involved will be women farmers.
In the past five years, the Government has been working with institutions like FAO to promote knowledge on rice and increase production.