By KRUGER SIANKULU –
AGRICULTURE shows are important events in Zambia as their display potential of the agriculture sector.
The 50th Mkushi Agriculture Show started in its preamble days with only five exhibitors and about 60 show goers.
In its jubilee calendar, it now has an astounding increase of more than 100 exhibitors and 15,000 people attending the show which was held under the theme, ‘Managing the Environment for Growth’.
Mkushi Agriculture Show Society chairperson, Victor Chise said there was need to promote a better environment as the country continues to grow economically.
He said the agriculture sector has for the past 50 years seen tremendous transformation in all sectors of human endeavour.
Mr Chise said the climatic conditions and environmental changes have affected farming and it is the more reason why farmers should be taking agriculture shows seriously so as to exchange ideas on the best ways of carrying out farming activities in challenging times.
“As you know, today marks 50 years since the show started here and my message to farmers is that they should not relent or succumb to the climatic change but rather continue to promote good environmental and good farming practices,” he said.
He said Government had played a major role in ensuring that agricultural products and production grows despite changes in climatic conditions.
Mr Chise said with good policies coupled with massive agriculture investment, the agriculture sector would be the number one earner of foreign exchange in the country.
He urged farmers to learn the use of conservation farming as it has proved to be economical and capable of producing good yields.
Government is committed to making agriculture the mainstay of its economy.
This is so because the majority of Zambians depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa, who graced the 50th Mkushi Agriculture Show, said Government would continue to provide support and put in place programmes that are intended to uplift the living standards of the people.
He said Government was currently implementing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), constructing and rehabilitating dip tanks, milk collection centres, dams and storage sheds.
In the livestock and fisheries sub-sectors, Government has created a new ministry in order to give prominence to the sectors.
Mr Chisopa urged farmers to put in place measures and strategies that would promote the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner as farmers engage in various agriculture activities.
“As the climate is changing, it is prudent that farmers harness and manage the resources that we are endowed with as a country in a manner that is environmentally friendly,” he said.
He said Mkushi District would continue to play a major role in enhancing agricultural production in the country especially in maize seed, wheat and soya beans production.
Mr Chisopa said Government was also happy at indicators which show that farmers are resolved to increasing agricultural production and productivity in spite of the unfavourable weather conditions that were experienced last season.
Luano District Commissioner, Christopher Chibuye said he was happy to be one of the show goers at the 50th Mkushi Agriculture Show.
Mr Chibuye said it was high time the citizens took keen interest in events like agriculture shows which promotes growth of the economy.
He urged farmers to be willing to learn so that they could improve their farms and production in order to alleviate high poverty levels in communities.
Zanaco senior manager – agribusiness, Edwin Mulenga said the bank was financing a full spectrum of agriculture activities starting from the small holder, emerging, commercial and large cooperative farmers.
Mr Mulenga said for small holder farmers, the bank finances groups of farmers who are organised through a special input supply package.
“The bank is also offering the dairy hybrid cattle loans on which collateral is the same animal which is given out,” he said.
National coordinator for Foundations of Farming, Ben Frampton, advised farmers to make use of organic manure as it was the best method of maintaining soil fertility.
He said organic farming was relatively cheap and if practiced by most of the farmers, it can enable the nation to have a lot of cheaply produced food on the market.
“Composite manure is easier to make. Just at the backyard, someone can make soil nutrition. All you need to do to bring soil fertility back is to have ingredients such as the green material (leaves) about 40 per cent, dry material about 40 per cent, animal dung for nitrogen – about 20 per cent, water and air,” he said.
The campaign to promote good use of natural resources in the farming sector is already under way.
The natural resources have lately been under stress due to climatic change.
Therefore, there is need to join hands and take every opportunity to promote good environmental practices.