KELLY NJOMBO, Kawambwa
SMALL-SCALE farmers in Kawambwa have appealed to Government to help them acquire title deeds for their land to enable them access loans from financial institutions.
Luena Farm block chairperson Paul Kapusha said lack of title deeds is hindering agricultural development in the area.
Mr Kapusha said when a delegation led by Luapula Province Minister Brigadier General Benson Kapaya, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) team and the Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen visited the farm block.
He said financial institutions only give loans to farmers who have title deeds which are used as collateral.
“As small-scale farmers, the biggest challenge we have is the acquisition of land title deeds. The procedures are too inflexible and tedious… The amount required to obtain a title deed is too costly for farmers, like us here in Muyembe area of Kawambwa district.
“…Our appeal to Government is to help us acquire title deeds so that we can have access to loan facilities and boost our agro-businesses,” he said.
Commenting on the farmers’ plight, ZNFU president Evelyn Nguleka said the union will intervene to ensure they acquire title deeds as well as loans.
Dr Nguleka urged farmers to take advantage of programmes such as the Bunjimi Asset Plus  credit scheme and the Land Surveyors’ land audit exercise aimed at enabling farmers acquire land with title deeds and loans from financial institutions.
“Once your farms have been surveyed, it will be easy for you to be issued with a title deed, and we will also help you during the process to obtain title deeds.
“And with loans, we have introduced the Bunjimi Asset Plus programme where we are helping farmers access loans they can use to start up a business or to boost their farming businesses,” she said.