Over 130 exhibitors have participated and displayed different kinds of farm produce at the Chongwe district agricultural show this year.
Speaking during the event, Chongwe Member of Parliament, Sylvia Masebo said in a speech read on her behalf by Chongwe District Administrative Officer, Kelvin Ndandanda, that the agriculture sector is contributing significantly to the economic transformation of the country.
Ms. Masebo, who is also Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the government has introduced a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at enhancing agriculture production.
“However, the sector is faced with a number of challenges such as climate change, low productivity, low adaptation of technologies among farmers and the lack of agriculture diversification and mechanisation,” she noted.
She revealed that 524 cooperatives benefited from the Farmer Input Support programme (FISP) in which 17,800 beneficiaries accessed inputs while 212 farmers accessed loans from the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) programme.
And Chongwe Show Society chairperson, Alice Musungilo, said Chongwe district is food secure as can be seen from the exhibitions.
“Despite all the challenges such as climate change, farmers have embraced smart agriculture practices in order to get a good harvest amidst climate change,” she said.
Ms. Musungilo also highlighted a number of challenges that farmers are facing such as lack of access to the market due to the deplorable road network in Chongwe district.
“The farmers have to spend a lot of money to reach the selling points such as FRA depots,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chongwe District Agriculture Coordinator, Jane Kabunda, appreciated the continued support from cooperating partners.
“We appreciate not only the support rendered during shows but to the many other areas that we are collaborating with in an effort to deliver extension services in the district,” she said.
This year’s Chongwe district Agriculture show was commemorated under the theme, “adapting to climate change”.
