ZNS urged to continue embracing technology

 Minister of Defence Ambrose Lufuma has urged the Zambia National Service (ZNS )  to continue embracing modern agricultural   methods and technology.

Mr Lufuma said embracing modern agricultural methods will improve productivity and impact positively on the performance of the country’s economy.

He said this  when he  commissioned the agriculture earth moving equipment , and flagging off the wheat harvesting at the ZNS Airport farm in Chongwe district in Lusaka province.

The Minister said government is happy that ZNS’s   purchase of two multi-purpose combine harvesters will help to enhance productivity of the nation through mechanisation of farm operations.

Mr Lufuma also noted that the waging war in Ukraine has awakened the wave among many African countries regarding the need to grow more food.

“So apart from pushing the attainment of food sovereignty, the government is working on incentivizing the farming community to position our country to be a net exporter of various agriculture produce,” Mr Lufuma said.

Mr Lufuma has since appealed to ZNS command to ensure that they speed up the Lusitu irrigation Scheme in Chirundu district and the Luswashi irrigation scheme in Mufulira under production.

He said the earth moving equipment will help ZNS to continue positioning itself to be reliable to the government in the construction of various earth works.

“It is especially heart-warming to realise that the service is adding a more taste brand of heavy-duty pieces of equipment to its aging fleet,” he said.

ZNS Commander Lieutenant General, Maliti Solochi said the modern pieces of agriculture machinery have been bought using internally generated resources at the cost of K6, 800.000.

Lieutenant General Solochi said the equipment will improve efficiency in the harvesting of the crop as there will be better grain yield owing to good agricultural practices.

“Other than harvesting wheat, the combine harvesters will also improve the service’s efficiency in the harvesting of soya beans and maize,” Lieutenant Solochi said.

He pointed out that the service will supplement government efforts to mobilize resources generated through the commercial projects.

The lieutenant General noted that the service will soon begin to reap benefits of the 11,224,000 spent on buying all pieces of equipment.