President Hakainde Hichilema officially commissioned the Bayer Itaba Seed Plant in Kabwe, Central Province, marking a significant milestone in Zambia’s agricultural sector. The plant is set to produce high-quality, tested maize seeds for farmers nationwide, strengthening the country’s food security and economic resilience.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Hichilema emphasized the importance of affordable and durable seed in boosting agricultural productivity. “Food security is national security, and ensuring that our farmers have access to quality seeds remains our ultimate focus for economic growth,” he said.
The new seed plant is expected to create jobs and enhance seed availability, supporting the government’s vision of year-round farming. The president acknowledged the impact of the recent drought and stressed the need for Zambia to embrace irrigation farming and water harvesting to ensure continuous food production.
“We are a farming nation. However, the drought we recently experienced has taught us a lesson. Moving forward, we must invest in irrigation and water harvesting to sustain food production throughout the year,” he stated.
Addressing a large crowd at Railway Stadium in Kabwe, President Hichilema reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equitable development across all districts. He also provided an update on the much-anticipated revival of Mulungushi Textiles, promising that progress was underway.
“Kabwe, like every other part of Zambia, will continue to receive its fair share of national development. We promised to deliver Mulungushi Textiles, and this is fast becoming a reality,” he said.
The president expressed gratitude to Zambians for their continued support, urging unity and perseverance in the country’s journey toward economic transformation.
“Together, we shall overcome. Thank you for voting for us in 2021 and for your continued support,” he concluded.
The commissioning of the Bayer Itaba Seed Plant aligns with the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Zambia’s agricultural sector, ensuring sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Focus should be more on amalaiti, as everything else is dependent on it. I hope he has not dropped the ball!
As long as Zambia contiues to depend on the weather to bring rains, the problem will persist.There is a phenomenon known as climate change.This means areas which are rainfall might receive reduced rains,e.g currently Wester Namibia which is a desert is receiving quite a good amount of rainfall.
This government is busy constructing solar power stations around the country like the one in Chongwe. They have introduced zero tariffs on solar electrical production equipment. Is that not enough to show that they have eyes on the ball?
I’m told the only good thing was NO LOADSHEDDING in Kabwe
On the down side why were some schools closed to allow children to make up the numbers when proper Education is so lacking at this time
Everything else can wait but country with out
Power is as good as at standstill.Why can’t
a team from zesco visit Dubai to see how they
Manage?
In Dubai they have natural gas fired turbines to generate power. In Zambia we don’t have gas, you see
Before you post such useless suggestions,please research.
First find out the GDP of United Arab Emirates, Dubai is the Capital city by the way. Then find out how they produce electricity. You may think just because they don’t have rivers and dams ,so how are they managing? Do your research.
@Swiss Knife maybe you should look it up yourself. UAE generates electricity primarily from natural gas. It is aiming for 50% from other sources by 2050. So that is a maybe half solar by 2050, maybe not. Can you even read?
I mean @Moto, apologies @Swiss
It was more of a political rally than commissioning. Schools and government offices were closed to allow everyone to attend the function which was graced by some of our best musicians.
Indeed truly shameful
He should have rebuked those who instructed the schools to close.
This is not the KK era
People like that overzealous and incompetent PS could have been behind the illegal closure of learning institutions in Kabwe yesterday. Most students said they went to the Presidents rally against their will.
The desperation of the perennial critics is more than amusing!! Some things can be acknowledged without always trying to throw shade. Given our current situation, sorting out the power situation is not an overnight thing. There have been endless explanations of what the government is doing to address this from expediting solar installations to commencing on interconnectors to expansion of Maamba Collieries. Truth is these are long lead items. We can’t halt all life until our power situation is normalised. Life goes on and government must do what can be done while waiting for benefits of power projects to kick in. But the naysayers know this. They can’t just forgo an opportunity to moan.
There is no desperation here. Time frames were voluntarily set by your leaders as UPND. Didn’t you set a time frame by saying sworn in at 10hrs and exchange rate was to improve by 14hrs. How do you call people nay sayers when all economic indicators have worsened ever since you took over government rendering your new media team dead on Arrival and Brought in Dead (BID) as what message will they have for the people.
Gasoline Kendulo
Show me a politician , in the whole world, who has fulfilled all campaign promises,…….
And I will show you a place where everything is free and people live forever……..
FWD2031
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that’s how it should be
Unfortunately most wake up too late, and the voting public is mainly situated in the rural arears
and they are so easily swayed, Watch price of mealie meal ,fuel, loadshedding improve, and maybe exchange rate drop later this year, All being vote tatics, havent we had 60 years of such ??
But the opinion should make sense based on empirical evidence. Failure is written all over, evidenced by worsening economic stats from government agencies themselves. They cannot be two opinions here unless one is dao. There can only be one opinion here, that of failure. Anything else is running away from the truth. And the Bible is very clear on what sets us free – and that is the truth
There is need to identify the architect who made students loose class time yesterday in Kabwe to attend a political rally, is this now part of the new syllabus. You can’t force civil servants and students to go attend a rally, and especially being addressed by an incompetent President who has worsened the economic fortunes of Zambia.
Those still complaining about load shedding should be instead calling ……….
For a commission of enquiry as to why billions of dollars and years were spend on hydro power, knowing……..
Full well a the effects of climate change on the same hydo power……….
So much time and money was spent on building hydro dams , has Zambia got any educated people in GRZ to advise them. ????
FWD2031
Solar SOLAR If @Spaka thinks that is the answer he will sorely dissapionted
Please can he tell us the system which was setup for a chief palace and clinic was it ?? running without incedent ???
My gripe is he is not presidential material and has not managed his party well at ALL and honestly believe 2026 is time up
So bayer has put up a $35 million seed processing plant but how are they going to process the seed without power? They should have also put up a solar plant right next to it to provide power to the plant otherwise I don’t see it working at full capacity.
Too many jokes in this country. Sata told us that some people were under 5s, and we did not get the signal see now how the country has crumbled.
All I know is the Kwacha is at K30 today and these guys are printing K200 and K500 notes, all this from past experience shows us the currency is to be devalued even further and inflation will rise.
Whether the Kariba dam is full or whether we have a bumper harvest someone will always have an excuse to say why the economy had failed. Our neighbors suffered the same drought but are not as badly hit as us.
I voted for UPND like many others, for the first time in 2021 but with their dismal performance and broken promises I will not make the same mistake in 2026!