By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Government has urged private sector players in the agriculture sector to help farmers source competitive inputs and market for
their produce.
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) on Monday this week flagged off the construction of an Agricultural Service Centre in Petauke which will be a one-stop-agriculture-service
platform.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Maxus Ng’onga said, in a liberalised economy there were many players in the market which makes it difficult for farmers to discover reputable sources of inputs and markets hence the need to help them.
Mr Ng’onga was speaking in Petauke when he officiated at the  flagging off of  the construction of a Agricultural Service Centre.
“Through this investment, an opportunity will present itself to screen the players in the agriculture service centre and deal with reputable suppliers.
“Furthermore, on the commodity market access side, the Petauke agriculture service centre once completed and functional, will be an alternative market which will increase competition among the players to the benefit of the farmers,”  he said.
The centre which will gobble up K18million, will include a crop marketing slab, commercial weigh bridge facilities, banking hall and input retail outlet, among others.
Others will be construction of agro processing facilities, livestock diagnostic and crop laboratories and livestock handling facilities.
ZNFU second vice president Graham Rae said with increased volumes of trade comes competitive pricing of inputs and easy access of market options.
“Petauke being a vibrant hub of production of grain, cotton, livestock and many more other agro products ,we are convinced the facility will within its first season become the farmers’ choice when buying inputs and selling their agriculture commodities,” said Mr Rae who is construction committee chairperson.
The contractor is currently mobilising in readiness to move on site in January 2016 and  is earmarked to complete works and handing over the facility to ZNFU.
The infrastructure and technological platform will be owned by ZNFU although it will be run by private sector players who will be providing a range of agricultural servicers.