By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

FARMERS at Ngulula Agriculture Scheme in Mungwi District have appealed to Government to attract investors to the area who are capable of establishing input distribution outlets.

Speaking on behalf of farmers, Emmanuel Mutale said accessing agriculture inputs was a challenge as they were required to cover long distances to buy inputs and that the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture should bring an investor to set up an outlet.

“We grow a lot of winter crops here, but the challenge is that we cover long distances to buy farming inputs such as fertiliser, chemicals and seeds among others,” Mr Mutale said.

He said the setting up of an input outlet, would help farmers access inputs at any time unlike the situation where the inputs were not available.

Mr Mutale said the scheme could feed Kasama and Mungwi Districts in terms of winter crops because of the presence of water due to many streams the area was endowed with.

The winter crops grown in the area includes maize, vegetables and fruits among others.

However, Malole Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma said the investor would soon set up an outlet where various agriculture inputs such as chemicals, seeds and fertilisers would be sold.

Mr Yaluma, who is Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister, said the Government would continue encouraging winter crops in the country.

“I will soon bring an investor to the area that will set up a big shop where various farming inputs will be sold so that the challenge of access to inputs is reduced,” he said.