•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu talks to International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) president Gilbert Houngbo (right) and United Nations Resident representative Janet Rogan at State House in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

By JAMES KUNDA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said the Government is extending infrastructure development to rural areas to ensure that social and economic development reaches all corners of the country.
This, the President said was one of the ways the Patriotic Front (PF) could mark a legacy of having developed every area regardless of the inhabitants’ political and social affiliation.
Mr Lungu said once the rural areas were developed, people would not bother settling outside the urban areas which would be ultimately decongested.
“So we are working 24/7 including on Sundays to ensure that we roll out these services as quickly as possible and our people begin to see a positive change in their livelihood,” President Lungu said.
The Head of State was speaking when International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) president Gilbert Houngbo called on him at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Houngbo was accompanied by United Nations (UN) Zambia country coordinator Janet Rogan and other officials from IFAD, while President Lungu was in the company of State House staff and Cabinet ministers.
President Lungu said the UN system, to which IFAD is affiliated, was a credible ally in supporting country boost growth in viable economic sectors such as agriculture which possesses multiple long-term benefits.
The President said IFAD should consider Government as a listening partner, assuring that all the institution’s initiatives in the country would be supported.
“With your help, we hope that our people would begin to see agriculture as a viable venture that will enable them earn income; so you can count on us and we’ll count on you to ensure that Zambia is a success story,” the Head of State said.
Mr Houngbo said the institution was using Zambia as a model to showcase how agriculture could spur social and economic development in any country.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Micheal Katambo and his Agriculture counterpart Dora Siliya took turns elaborating the several projects IFAD was pioneering in Zambia at a portfolio of US$125 million.
After the talks, the President took the IFAD delegation around State House, showing it some aqua and wildlife being nurtured on the premises.
He said he had taken an interest in learning about the behaviour of wildlife as it was an appreciated resource of nature.
Mr Lungu said he would soon start physically visiting the households of civil servants to see if they have indulged in any form of agricultural activity.