By JULIUS PHIRI –
VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has called for increased production in various crops by farmers in Eastern Province.
The Vice-President said this when she addressed Government officials and party cadres who thronged the Chipata airport yesterday, that there is need for farmers to double up the production of farming produce in the province in order to spread the benefits to the whole nation.

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Ms Wina said she Eastern Province is one of the leading producers of food crops and that there was need for farmers to do even more in production.
“The farmers should add value through increased production. I know that the farmers here are hardworking and I am encouraging you the farmers here to increase production,” she said.
Ms Wina said it was for this reason that the Government wants to introduce milling plants across the country.
She explained that the milling companies, which the Government wants to introduce, will enable various parts of the country to have affordable mealie-meal.
She said Government is eager to take development to various provinces across the country.
Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone and PF provincial chairperson Attany Mwamba were on hand to receive the Vice-President.
The Vice-President is in Eastern Province to inspect various developmental projects by Government.
Ms Wina also said the country cannot develop without the participation of the traditional leadership.
She said this when she paid a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in Chipata.
The Vice-President said that the traditional leadership contributed greatly to various developmental projects and Government will continue working with them in uplifting the living standards of the people.
She said her office had sent officers from Central Statistical Office to conduct an assessment on the looming hunger in some parts of the country, including Eastern Province.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni encouraged the Vice-President to continue working hard.
He explained that there is need for the Government to complete developmental projects started by late president Michael Sata.
The traditional leader also said a lot of  people would face hunger due to the poor rainfall.
He said Government should not export maize because of the looming hunger in the country.