Govt to cancel deals with underperforming institutions

Defence Permanent Secretary Sturdy Mwale has warned that government will soon cancel all memorandum of understandings with institutions that are not serious to avoid wasting time.

And Mr. Mwale says his ministry is taking seriously, the directive by President Edgar Lungu, to venture into agriculture for Zambia to be food secure.

Mr. Mwale says his ministry is therefore, considering working with an Indian company, Prasad seeds, through a joint venture or public private partnership in order to achieve food security.

He says his ministry has action oriented officers who do not waste time when executing any mission.

Mr. Mwale was speaking in Lusaka when Zambia’s high commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga took Prasad Seeds Company who wants to set up a world class seed processing facility in Zambia.

He says the ministry has just concluded a mission to Muchinga province to secure vast irrigable land for food security especially through the Zambia National Service- ZNS.

And Prasad seeds General Manager for Africa Sreekumar Nair has assured government that his company which provides 70% of India’s seed requirements is serious about investing in Zambia.

He says Prasad seeds company has existed for over 30 years with core competence being seed processing.

And Zambia’s high commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga says Zambia is currently importing paddy rice seeds and vegetable seeds.

Mrs. Kapijimpanga says the idea by the ministry of Defence to partner with Prasad seeds can go a long way in the country’s food security if paddy rice and vegetable seeds are processed locally.

She says Prasad Seeds Company has an outgrower scheme which empowers women and youths through giving them seeds to plant and later buys off the produce for seed processing.

This is contained in a statement made available by first secretary press and tourism at the Zambian mission in new Delhi, India, Bangwe Naviley.