.SIKAZWE

By KENNEDY MUPESENI? –

THE Zambian Government and some countries from the Great Lakes region plan to establish joint commercial farm blocs in Zambia to grow various crops for export to that region.
So far 500 hectares of land has been identified in Mpulungu and is?awaiting formalisation for land title and funding modalities.? Northern Province minister Freedom Sikazwe said in an interview that Government was working with countries in the Great Lake Region to establish a farm and grow various crops.
“Zambia has good conditions to grow various crops which will help?countries in the Great Lakes Region like Burundi, Ruanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo among others,” Mr Sikazwe said.
Most of the countries are facing challenges in growing some crops due to prevalence of crop diseases hence the move to work with Zambia to produce such crops which cannot be grown in some of the countries.
He said the provincial administration was eagerly waiting for the?ministries of Agriculture and Lands to finalise all the formalities?looking at the benefits of the project.
Among the crops which are earmarked are soya-beans and maize which would be used locally.?Mr Sikazwe, who is Mpulungu Member of Parliament said local people in the district would benefit in terms of employment and food security.
The venture would also attract investors like those in fisheries to produce stock feeds for fish farming which he said was a major challenge.
“Shortage of feed stocks for the fishery industry had been  major?challenge; if the project succeeds things will work out,” he said.?Mr Sikazwe said with the upgrading of electricity and other?infrastructure developments like roads in the province more business?ventures would be workable.