By CHATULA KANGALI –
MPONGWE District Council is negotiating with farmers on the implementation of the re-introduced crop levy.
President Edgar Lungu recently announced the re-introduction of the crop levy which was banned by the previous government as a way of increasing revenue base for local authorities.
Council chairperson Boniface Chushi said the local authority was negotiating with farmers on the implementation of re-introduced crop levy.
“We are in talks with our farmers both small scale and large scale on the implementation of crop levy. It will be difficult for the council to implement the levy because here we have farmers that grow crops throughout the year,” he said in an interview.
He said once the crop levy is implemented in the agricultural district, revenue collection would increase and help the local authority improve in its services delivery.
Mpongwe currently produces over 80,000 tonnes of maize per year. Some of the crops that are grown in the district include soya beans, barley, wheat, Rice, Irish potatoes, groundnuts and cotton.
