By CHILA NAMAIKO –
PUBLIC Service Management Division (PSMD) permanent secretary Boniface Chimbwali has implored public service workers to take advantage of the established public service micro-finance company to access agro-equipments to engage in agricultural activities.
About 80 public service workers have so far accessed agro-chemicals through the public service micro-finance company at an estimated value of K8.9 million.
Out of that amount, a total of K6.8 million has been disturbed to female applicants.
Mr Chimbwali said President Edgar Lungu’s call for economic diversification required concerted efforts from various stakeholders in order to accelerate efforts to realise the Government’s agricultural agenda.
“The President call for economic diversification from mining to agriculture requires support from citizen and in the case of civil servants, they can take advantage of this public service micro-finance company to access agro-equipment for personal agriculture activities,” he said in an interview with journalists at the National Assembly on Friday last week.
This was shortly after attending the official opening of the Second Session of the National Assembly by President Lungu under the theme ‘Moving towards a prosperous Smart-Zambia in peace and tranquillity without leaving anyone behind’.
Mr Chimbwali said the public service workers could also play a significant role in promoting agricultural activities in the country.
President Lungu, in his address to the House and nation at large, reiterated his call for public service workers to actively engage in agricultural activities now and not wait until they were tired and retired.
Mr Lungu said, with reference to enhancing mechanisation in agricultural production, the Government was facilitating the construction of a tractor assembly plant by Ursus, a leading European manufacturer of tractors.
President Lungu said the construction would commence in 2018 and was expected to create 700 direct jobs and reduce the price of tractors and agricultural equipment by 20 per cent.