PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema yesterday noted with happiness that many citizens have ventured into maize production, which he said is impressive as it is the only way to ensure food security.
The President further observed that Zambians are hard-working people and that the “challenges before us will not stop us from realising Zambia’s dream of being a food basket for the region, continent, and the global community at large”.
As Mr Hichilema observed, the increase in the number of our citizens involved in maize growing this year signals a strong national food security position for the country.
As our staple crop, maize holds the key to addressing food insecurity and positioning the country as a major supplier of agricultural produce in the region.
The interest in agriculture, particularly maize growing by many of our citizens, is not from without.
It is a response to the Government’s policies and measures.
Explaining the Government’s decision to increase the maize floor price to K280 for a 50-kilogramme bag of maize from about K180, Mr Hichilema said a higher price for maize was going to encourage more people to grow the crop, which in turn was going to bring the prices of mealie meal down.
In addition to raising the floor price for maize, the Government introduced the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF), a credit window, to enable citizens not covered under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to access affordable agricultural loans.
This transformative approach is indeed unlocking our agricultural potential by encouraging more and more of our people to engage in maize growing. And by ramping up maize cultivation, Zambia can ensure a consistent food supply for its people and provide a buffer against external market fluctuations and price volatility.
Further, expanding maize production can have far-reaching positive effects beyond our borders.
The surplus maize can be exported to neighbouring countries, thereby contributing to regional food security and improving the country’s balance of payments position.
By leveraging its agricultural capacity, Zambia can further strengthen regional trade relations and foster economic growth by tapping into the high demand for maize and mealie meal from neighbouring countries.
As more of our people get involved in maize production, it is important to acknowledge the challenges associated with scaling up maize production, including environmental considerations and the need for sustainable farming practices. The increased cultivation of maize should be accompanied by a commitment to ensuring environmentally friendly practices, such as promoting conservation agriculture, efficient water management, and soil conservation techniques. Balancing the expansion of maize cultivation with environmental conservation is essential to ensure the long-term viability of agricultural production.
Additionally, efforts to diversify the agriculture sector should not be overlooked. While maize plays a critical role, there is a need to promote the cultivation of a variety of crops to enhance resilience and sustainability. Encouraging crop rotation, promoting the cultivation of nutrient-rich crops, and supporting agroforestry initiatives can contribute to a more diverse and resilient agricultural landscape.
Believing that maize production holds great economic potential for the country, we urge even more of our citizens to heed the President’s call to involve themselves in agricultural activities, particularly maize production.
We believe that it’s not too late for those that have not yet considered getting into agriculture to do so now.
Maize can be grown even off-season.
Aggregated, the small efforts of our citizens in the agriculture sector can help Zambia realise its aspiration of being a regional food basket and prosperous middle-income country by 2030.
Increased maize production can boost Zambia’s economy
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema yesterday noted with happiness that many citizens have ventured into maize production, which he said is impressive as it is the only way to ensure food security.
The President further observed that Zambians are hard-working people and that the “challenges before us will not stop us from realising Zambia’s dream of being a food basket for the region, continent, and the global community at large”.
As Mr Hichilema observed, the increase in the number of our citizens involved in maize growing this year signals a strong national food security position for the country.
As our staple crop, maize holds the key to addressing food insecurity and positioning the country as a major supplier of agricultural produce in the region.
The interest in agriculture, particularly maize growing by many of our citizens, is not from without.
It is a response to the Government’s policies and measures.
Explaining the Government’s decision to increase the maize floor price to K280 for a 50-kilogramme bag of maize from about K180, Mr Hichilema said a higher price for maize was going to encourage more people to grow the crop, which in turn was going to bring the prices of mealie meal down.
In addition to raising the floor price for maize, the Government introduced the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF), a credit window, to enable citizens not covered under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to access affordable agricultural loans.
This transformative approach is indeed unlocking our agricultural potential by encouraging more and more of our people to engage in maize growing. And by ramping up maize cultivation, Zambia can ensure a consistent food supply for its people and provide a buffer against external market fluctuations and price volatility.
Further, expanding maize production can have far-reaching positive effects beyond our borders.
The surplus maize can be exported to neighbouring countries, thereby contributing to regional food security and improving the country’s balance of payments position.
By leveraging its agricultural capacity, Zambia can further strengthen regional trade relations and foster economic growth by tapping into the high demand for maize and mealie meal from neighbouring countries.
As more of our people get involved in maize production, it is important to acknowledge the challenges associated with scaling up maize production, including environmental considerations and the need for sustainable farming practices. The increased cultivation of maize should be accompanied by a commitment to ensuring environmentally friendly practices, such as promoting conservation agriculture, efficient water management, and soil conservation techniques. Balancing the expansion of maize cultivation with environmental conservation is essential to ensure the long-term viability of agricultural production.
Additionally, efforts to diversify the agriculture sector should not be overlooked. While maize plays a critical role, there is a need to promote the cultivation of a variety of crops to enhance resilience and sustainability. Encouraging crop rotation, promoting the cultivation of nutrient-rich crops, and supporting agroforestry initiatives can contribute to a more diverse and resilient agricultural landscape.
Believing that maize production holds great economic potential for the country, we urge even more of our citizens to heed the President’s call to involve themselves in agricultural activities, particularly maize production.
We believe that it’s not too late for those that have not yet considered getting into agriculture to do so now.
Maize can be grown even off-season.
Aggregated, the small efforts of our citizens in the agriculture sector can help Zambia realise its aspiration of being a regional food basket and prosperous middle-income country by 2030.