Agriculture will outperform mining-SEED-CO

By DERRICK SILIMINA

SEED-CO has donated K50,000 towards the hosting of the EXPO North-West 2019 slated for August this year, with great hope that agriculture will out-perform mining in the future.

Seed-Co Chairman Chance Kabaghe handed over the donation to North-Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, Mr Kabaghe said the positioning of North-Western Province in the regional geography of Zambia was key to steer the agriculture sector forward.

“As Seed-Co, we’ve seen the kind of agricultural resources that are domiciled in the province, the kind of rain that you receive, the soils that you are endowed with. North-Western Province is no doubt going to be the granary of this country. You have Angola on your western side and on your northern side, you have the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Both countries are deficit countries in terms of crop, livestock and fish production.

“Again, you are able to produce not only for the province and the country at large but for sure you will be producing for DRC and for Angola as well,” Mr Kabaghe noted.

He affirmed that Seed-Co, being a national company would like to see that the issue of seed for farmers in the province was not a challenge, especially now that the August 18-24 Exposition was likely to attract more farmers.

“We have bred already top-class varieties for maize, wheat, soya beans and other crops for the province. So, no investor that is coming for the Expo should be thinking that seed should be an issue for North-Western Province. We have all the required seed varieties for the province. We do know that because of the continued good rains that you do receive, we do have long-maturing varieties but in case certain farmers require medium to short term varieties, we do also have those varieties for the province.”

Seed-Co as a company was delighted to support and see that the Expo-North West becomes a success.

“We have been committed in all the provinces and our budget has been really tight to support all the Expos for this year but we thought that it is extremely important that we are with you in offsetting most of your costs in hosting this extremely important Expo.”

Mr Kabaghe further noted that despite the mining sector being the centre of attention in the province, agriculture production was critical for developing the province.

“I do know that people are just talking about mining, mining in North-Western Province and that it is the next Copperbelt Province; but minister to tell you the truth; mining will not bring about the kind of benefits that agriculture is going to give to the province. If we want to uplift the living standards of our people in this province, it is through agriculture.

“We have seen what mining does, not only in this country but all over the world. They employ just a small group of people and just leave holes after they have exhausted minerals; but agriculture is sustainable and it is there to look after our people through and through,” he said.

Receiving the cheque, Mr Mubukwanu thanked Seed-Co for coming forward and supporting the hosting of the Expo North-Western.

“On behalf of my team in North-Western Province, we would like to sincerely and profoundly express our deeper appreciation to you in person and Seed-Co for responding positively to our call for support as we begin a journey to unveil the hidden treasures of the province. You have said it all and very well that for us, agriculture through this Expo is going to turn around the story of the province.”

Mr Mubukwanu agreed that all the key fundamentals that could contribute to the growth of the sector are readily available in the province.

“We have the human resource, good climatic conditions, abundant water, and arable land and other than that we are strategically located. And moreover, we have also strengthened our cooperation at bilateral level with our colleagues from the DRC and Angola whom through our various engagements have continually expressed their need for support with food commodities from Zambia.

“So today, you are making us feel greatly honoured through this gesture and donation you are giving us. We can certainly assure you that it will be put to very good use,” the minister said. – Courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS.