•CHIZIKA Katongo of Nkeyema District of Western Province, test-drives one of the tractors handed over by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), under the Bunjimi Asset Plus a loan facility by the National Savings and Credit Bank
(NATSAVE).Picture by KENNEDY MUPESENI.

By KENNEDY MUPESENI? –
THE Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has handed over farming equipment to eight beneficiaries of Nkeyema District in Western Province.
The farm equipment included three tractors and five hammer-mills worth K549, 000, which were handed over to eight farmers under the Bunjimi Asset Plus a loan facility by the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE).
The facility, which was launched about two years ago, requires members to pay 25 per cent of the total value of the farm equipment before obtaining it.
ZNFU president Evelyn Nguleka said on Wednesday that the Bunjimi Asset Plus was slowly expanding its portfolio in equipping farmers with assets of their choice through mechanisation.
‘‘ ZNFU has remained steadfast in its quest to empower members with information to enhance productivity by linking them to services in order to improve their access to input providers, equipment suppliers such as through what we are witnessing today,’’
Dr Nguleka said.
She said time had come for farming to be treated purely as a business, hence the need to support farmers through mechanisation in order to raise production levels.?Under the facility, the implements were provided by Saro Agro Limited and other equipment suppliers, while the sole financier was NATSAVE.
Dr Nguleka said through this support, farmers had been progressing steadily as they adhered to the sustainable and improved farming practices.
NATSAVE Mongu branch manager Gilead Musinga said the bank would continue to play a vital role in critical economic sectors by providing financing.
“We will continue to be a vehicle of relevance to the Zambian economy by forging partnerships with organisations such as the ZNFU,” Mr Musinga said.
Western Province Minister Poniso Njeulu in a speech read for him by Nkeyema District Commissioner Fridah Luhila said Government would continue supporting private sector initiatives aimed at assisting farmers’ access to assets to help enhance productivity and value addition.
“Let me take this opportunity to encourage other farmers to consider joining the union and benefit from accessing farm equipment and other products which ZNFU has designed,” Mr Njeulu said.