Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Ministers of National Development Planning, Agriculture and Copperbelt province have supported the African Development Bank (AfDB) proposal to implement the Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) at Luswishi Farm Block in Lufwanyama District on the Copperbelt.
The Staple Crop Processing Zone concept is envisaged to facilitate the development of idle land into commercially viable farm production and processing operations.
The African Development Bank delegation led by Country Manager Manneko Mary Monyau, made a presentation about the SCPZ for Luswishi Farm Block to the three ministers and other senior government officials yesterday.
AfDB Chief Agriculture Economist Duncan Mwesige explained that the Staple Crop Processing Zone initiative is aimed at sustainable and blanced agri-industrialisation, promoting investments in the agriculture sector, enhancing rural livelihood opportunities, drive economic growth and reducing rural-urban migration.
Mr Mwesige explains that the proposed SCPZ is a timely initiative to create wealth, employment,food security and fits well with the new trends in developing sustainable technologies and innovative products to address the challenges posed due to rapid industrialization and urbanization and fast depletion of natural resources faced by the sector.
He says through the SCPZ,Zambia can develop a globally competitive agro-industry, promote synergies and productive relationships between business enterprises and farmers.
Mr Mwesige appealed to the government to prioritise the tarring of the road leading to Luswishi Farm Block.
AfDB Country Manager Ms Monyau congratulated the Zambia government for the improvement of its AfDB portfolio that currently stands at 77 percent.
And Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme expressed government commitment to improve the welfare of the people, adding that initiatives like SCPZ are welcome to empower the masses.
Mr Chiteme says Farm Block development is one of the programme areas indentified in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) to help accelerate economic diversification and job creation.
And Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo assured that his ministry would consider budget lines from which resources could be mobilized towards government’s counterpart funding towards the SCPZ at Luswishi Farm Block.
This is contained in a statement issued by ministry of national development planning Spokesperson Chibaula Silwamba.