MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IMPLORES FARMERS TO EMBRACE VALUE ADDITION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
NEW DELHI- The Ministry of Agriculture has implored farmers to not only concentrate on producing crops but also embrace value addition if they are to transition into emerging and large scale farmers.
Director – Agribusiness and Marketing Mwendalubi Moono Msoka says small scale farmers are key players in the value addition chain and more effort is needed to ensure value addition to their products for a high return.
Speaking in New Delhi yesterday after attending the just-ended World Food India 2024 Conference, Ms. Msoka notes that India has done a lot on processing and that while small scale Zambian farmers have concentrated much on production, there is a need to pay particular attention to value addition if they are to grow.
She notes that the Zambian Government has placed a huge premium on value addition through initiatives such as the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Programme (CATSP) which is amplified by the pillar on nutrition and food security as well as processing.
She said the Ministry has recognised the small scale farmers as part of the value addition chain and that aggregation alliances are key in the sector.
And Ministry of Agriculture Chief Food and Nutrition Officer Karen Chenda Mukuka has expressed concern that most of the food processed locally may not be nutrition sensitive.
Ms. Mukuka said there is a need to have different crops blended to produce a particular product as doing so enhances the nutrition value of the final product. She further called on Zambians to increase their propensity to consuming local products to support local farmers.
She further challenged farmers to grow drought resistant crops such as sorghum, millet, and cassava in the wake of unpredictable rainfall patterns.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s High Commissioner to India H.E Mr. Percy Chanda said India has a lot to offer in the agriculture sector hence the need for the Ministry of Agriculture to engage more with various stakeholders in India though the Mission.
Mr. Chanda said India is the hub of mechanization and value addition technology which can easily be transferred to help small scale farmers enhance their productivity in Zambia, hence the need to take practical steps to achieve this.
