By CHILA NAMAIKO –

. CHIKWANDA

THERE is need to invest more in irrigation to facilitate continuous agricultural activity in the country following the prevailing drought in many areas, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said.
Mr Chikwanda observed that irrigation agriculture had higher yields because water was regulated and done in dry times when there was no spread of insects that attack plants.
The minister also cited areas such as Southern Province as needing the establishment of more dams to provide portable water for both human consumption, animals and irrigation.
He was speaking when he commissioned the newly-constructed three-by-two semi-detached housing blocks at a cost of K2.91 million for Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) workers in Choma on Friday.
“Southern Province is one area of the country that is most prone to adversity of weather patterns like drought. This year, the prospects are not particularly cheerful,” he said.
He said the province had a huge stock of wealth through cattle and assured that Government would continue to take measures to safeguard livestock from the disease burden.
The Government’s desire, he said, was to intensify measures to roll back the incidences of livestock diseases through construction of more dip tanks, at least one at each village level.
Mr Chikwanda said the Patriotic Front (PF) administration, through its robust development agenda, was keen to deliver tangible programmes to citizens.
“Zambia can and should do more to insulate itself against the harsh realities and vagaries of the global market place,” he said.
ZRA governing board chairperson Lumbwe Mwila said the institution was committed to putting up more infrastructure in the newly-opened stations like Choma.
He said the modernisation initiatives would actualise ZRA’s vision of being a beacon of excellence in tax administration.
Provincial Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu hailed ZRA management for its efforts in tax collection to enhance Government revenue.