• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (in cap) tours the Amiran demonstration tomato field at the on-going Agritech Expo in Chisamba yesterday. Picture by GOODSON LUPIYA/ZANIS

By JUDITH NAMUTOWE and JAMES KUNDA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has urged farmers in the country to read Government policy instead of depending on information being purveyed by Government critics.
Mr Lungu said the National Land Policy, the Borehole Drilling Act and others were enacted in favour of the public interest, contrary to insinuations by some sections of society.
“I am saying so because most Zambians, unfortunately, you don’t read these documents. You complain from hearsay. So I challenge all of you to read for yourselves and take a position instead of depending on what others have said,” President Lungu has said.
The President was speaking during the official opening of the 5th Agritech Expo whose theme is “Working together to build a stronger
Zambian Agriculture Sector” taking place at the Golden Valley
Agriculture Research Trust (GART) in Chisamba yesterday.
“I must add that we are a listening Government, please let us raise specific issues of interest and concern in the draft National Land Policy so that we can address them,” he said.
He said it was important that farmers familiarised themselves with the National Land Policy to guard against being misled by politicians who set the agenda depending on how they analysed issues.
President Lungu said the e-voucher scheme which allowed subsistence farmers access to subsidise agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and seed, would remain in place and Government was committed to addressing all the challenges surrounding its implementation.

He said the e-voucher was a good initiative as it gave farmers the freedom to choose their preferred inputs.
The President also urged the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU to
work with the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Zambia to increase access to financing in the agriculture sector.
He urged farmers to embrace innovative ways of crop growing and livestock rearing to increase production and support Government’s economic diversification agenda.
Mr Lungu said Government was committed to addressing anomalies such as importation of locally available farm produce such as fruit and vegetables to empower local farmers.
ZNFU president Jervis Zimba said 2018 provided a fresh start for farmers in implementing solutions and enhance national food security.
Mr Zimba said the union was actively engaging several government agencies to find lasting solutions to the challenges affecting Zambian farmers.
“We the farmers do not want to be left out when Government is making policies that affect our welfare. This is why we continue calling for dialogue before the implementation of policies such as the draft land policy and Borehole Drilling Act,” Mr Zimba said.
Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo said the Government would maintain an open-door policy to stay engaged with the farming community on all issues affecting their welfare.
Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga said Government would
continue supporting expos such as the Agritech to ensure that farmers had a platform to express their views.
Meanwhile President Lungu spent time visiting the stands and interacted with farmers and agro dealers at the expo.
After the tour, the President told journalists that Zambia had immense potential to thrive in the agriculture sector.
He urged the private sector to participate actively in this year’s marketing season saying the Food Reserve Agency FRA would not set the market price for maize and other commodities.