Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has launched a 14.87 million Euros project funded by the European Union (EU) designed to construct four new Agricultural Service Centers in Chibombo, Mpongwe, Lundazi and Mbala.
Speaking during the signing ceremony this morning, ZNFU Executive Director Ndambo Ndambo says the project will also support a feasibility study for the establishment of a trading platform at Kasumbalesa on the Zambian DRC border.
Mr. Ndambo explains that the project aims to ignite and facilitate linkages and partnerships with the private sector in order to improve small scale farmers’ access to reliable supply of fairly priced inputs, obtain competitive prices for their production, access modern marketing infrastructures and benefit from private sector player’s adequate technical and advisory services.
He stresses that the project is expected to benefit over 90,000 farmers majority of whom will be small scale farmers.
Mr. Ndambo has further urged private sector players o join hands with them as they continue catalyzing enabling policies and providing infrastructure and facilitating services that will soon see the agriculture sector cease from being a sector of potentials that are never tapped for the benefit of mankind.
And outgoing EU Head of delegation to Zambia and COMESA Gilles Hervio says the EU has put in 110 million Euros to support the agriculture sector.
Mr. Hervio says the EU is hopeful that the beneficiaries will be able to increase their production and productivity and increase income thereby improving livelihoods.