Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
GOVERNMENT has launched a new National Agricultural Policy and the strategy on the national agricultural extension and advisory services.
Speaking during the launch in Lusaka today, Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya reiterated government’s commitment to transforming the agriculture sector.
Ms. Siliya says the two documents have been developed in order to take into account the challenges which have been identified by stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
She says the second national agricultural policy encompasses agriculture diversification which will help focus on various crops apart from maize.
She adds that the policy also focuses on increasing production and productivity, noting the need for the country to take maximum advantage of the resources available to increase production.
Ms. Siliya says the policy document also includes the promotion of irrigation farming unlike the case has been where once the rains have ended, farmers become unproductive.
The Agriculture Minister states that government is confident that the two documents will help improve the agriculture sector.
Speaking at the same launch, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Michael Katambo says the strategy on national agricultural extension and advisory services is intended to provide various stakeholders extension services delivery within the framework to deliver effective pluralistic extension services in order to accelerate agriculture transformation and contribute to poverty reduction.