President Edgar Lungu has called on agriculture extension staff to take their job seriously so as to help farmers improve on agriculture productivity.
President Lungu speaking during the national crop planting launch in Petauke district ,eastern province today, said he was displeased with concerns that extension workers spent time on trivialities at the expense of teaching farmers on how to grow crops.
“I personally want to state that extension workers who spend time womanizing should change their behaviour and focus on work for our farmers,” said President Lungu.
The President who was accompanied by Ministers of agriculture, Michael Katambo, State House freedom Sikazwe, Housing and Infrastructure, Vincent Mwale, PF National Chairman, Samuel Mukupa and Deputy Chairman, for national mobilization Geoffrey Mwamba said government pays particular attention to agriculture because it is an engine for national food security.
President Lungu addressing agro dealers and farmers who assembled at Yengwe farms, said the national planting launch has become an important event because it signifies the commencement of planting by farmers.
He said it was pleasing that the country has continued to record a bumper harvest owing to the government’s sound policies.
The President implored farmers to continue adopting smart agriculture as it was the best way to go.
The Head of State discouraged farmers who have benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme(FISP) not to sell their inputs. “It is not right for the farmers to sell inputs when others completely failed to get anything,” President Lungu complained.
The President during the same occasion also donated a tractor to Paul Yengwe the owner of the farm the launch was held at so that he improves on his farming activities.
President Lungu also donated another tractor to the Petauke district cooperative union for their farming activities.
And British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley, commended the government for its efforts it was making to improve food production and embrace smart agriculture.
“The United Kingdom was supporting conservation farming initiatives to an amount of 25 million British pounds targeting 250,000 farmers countrywide, he disclosed.
Mr Woolley reiterated his governments’ commitment to improving livelihoods thus eradicating poverty in Zambia.
Earlier, Petauke District Farmer’s union Chairperson, Fackson Phiri praised president Lungu’s administration for exhibiting leadership in the agriculture sector.
Mr Phiri said the early distribution of inputs was unmatched in the country’s history.
He further said the on spot payment of farmers who supplied maize was commendable.
“I’m however, appealing to the government to work on roads which pose a challenge during the rainy season” he stated .
He also appealed to the president to direct the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to increase the price of bag of maize considering the cost of production.
The problem is prevarications by PF government. Who can believe them – Zambians now want the debt issue resolved to pay Bondholders
Leaving wife just like that in streets, over this? I wouldn’t.
PF please deliver us from economic enslavement you’ve created. We want the incoming government to start on a clean plate.
What a contrast, while His Excellency the state president ECL was launching crop planting, leaders of outdated political ideologies such as that of Fred Mmembe are busy arguing on semantics.
His govt has lamentably failed to pay a mere $42 million for EUROBOND yet he is out and about for 6 days in EP…misplaced priorities indeed
KZ
“The United Kingdom was supporting conservation farming initiatives to an amount of 25 million British pounds targeting 250,000 farmers countrywide, he disclosed…”
That is out tax money feeding PF …..
KZ
“The United Kingdom was supporting conservation farming initiatives to an amount of 25 million British pounds targeting 250,000 farmers countrywide, he disclosed…”
That is our diasporans tax money feeding PF …..
KZ
“The United Kingdom was supporting conservation farming initiatives to an amount of 25 million British pounds targeting 250,000 farmers countrywide, he disclosed…”
That is our diasporans tax money feeding PF …..
Before you say that part of the money the colonists stole , they left the kwacha same level as the dollar in 1964……..
Spaka you say we and yet you are claiming state benefits there in UK. In fact most of you there are a drain on their resources. I am not complaining about that because they owe you just as much as they owe us here due to their fore fathers’ theft and exploitation of our resources. All those things you are enjoying there abroad understand that they were built on the back of our forefathers and our resources. However you are too f00lish to realise this. They turned you into a proper coon and puppet who is now doing their dirty work for them. Oooh you f00lish African. Wake up
Useless peace of sh1t of a president, probably the ka worst peace sh1t president on earth, what a w@nker
The president that starts working 6 months before elections!
Anyway just tell the nation who was behind the gassing and killings.
Silence can be interpreted as complicity.
Did anyone show this moron the job description of a president? The would media is full of articles of Zambia defaulting and he his busy lauching plating of amataba
Look at the vile impostor always posting in UK GMT time periods
KZ
Zambia will always remain a begger with that theif you are following…..
I would rather clean toilets , be a coon , be brainwashed , be lead by whites , gays be what ever you imagine….and live here under a none corrupt goverment than live in Zambia where theives like you and lungu are openly thrashing the once vibrant economy…….
Ba pf (Kaizer Zulu explain), do you have a policy on broadcasting in this country, like the dos & don’ts of radio DJ. Like what is radio language or topics. Or do you only react to radios when they are opposing you.
Radios in Zambia, a so called christian nation, are a shock. DJs only promote beer drinking & sex, both in comments & songs played. Komboni is worse. Even lady DJs are scary. In this country, is every song done by musicians radio worthy? Songs played are about getting drunk, beer drinking, bokosi, gumu gumu, uku momonya, mpwimpwi etc. All day. Radios have no educational or enlightening content. There are no programs on youth upliftment, what businesses youths can get into. Nothing of farming as ventures for youths. What country is pf running really?
YOU FORGOT TO ADD AND THE THEFT AND PLUNDER BY YOU AND YOUR PARTY !
Lusakatimes , why are you blocking comments from people who support the mighty PF and ECL? I thought that you were an impartial media but you are now proving me wrong
KZ
“…..Spaka you say we and yet you are claiming state benefits there in UK…”
Even if I claim state benefits …..
Ni nalama za nyko ???
Spaka yes my resources in Zambia and Africa were stolen by the countries you now call home. Those benefits you are receiving are from my forefathers hard work and our resources. So you can say we are keeping you there in diaspora. My money is keeping you. You ignorant hyena
The extension officers womanizing while on work is a serious issue. Strict action must be taken against them. Farmers have high hopes from them to learn about crops and planting. This behavior of extension officers will prove dear to the farmers.
Remove them from the job if they are not serious. Public money is spent on their salaries and perks. it is criminal abuse of public money.
The agricultural output of the country has shown remarkable increase in recent past. This is good news. Farmers can be a part of nation building process amidst the testing times of Covid19. Their hard work is paying dividends now in form of food security of Zambia.
Dear farmers, the FISP is run on public money. Please don’t misuse the equipment’s you get under the programmed. After all, it the hard earned money of our brothers and sisters. Please respect them.
Congratulations Paul Yengwe and Petauke district cooperative union. Happy farming. The nation is with farmers in all the ups and downs.
Lungu has only realised he has work to do…
The past 7 years he was busy globetrotting and stealing…..
“…..“I personally want to state that extension workers who spend time womanizing should change their behaviour and focus on work for our farmers,” said President Lungu….”
He should have adopted this attitude in his first year…..
Kaizar Zulu
November 20, 2020 At 10:40 am
“…Spaka yes my resources in Zambia and Africa were stolen by the countries you now call home. Those benefits you are receiving are from my forefathers hard work and our resources…”
Almost 56 years after independence , and with theives like you and lungu , is it a surprise you are still crying about the colonial era ?
Begging day and night for aid yet Zambia is a very rich country…..
Even after blowing $20 billion, ??? You should be ashamed of your self…..
..
My humble n hardworking president at work again. I am sure upnd sympathisers must be foaming with loath by his Excellency’s heart for the people. Tamwakatekepo ba under 5.
What is Crop National planting?