By HOPE BWALYA –

. MARIANI

THE European Union (EU) has provided K1 billion to the agriculture sector aimed at reducing rural poverty levels.
EU delegation to Zambia Alessandro Mariani said reducing poverty cannot be achieved without enhancing the living standards of small scale farmers who form part of the foundation of national economy.
Mr Mariani was speaking during an EU national stakeholders’ consultation meeting to review identified priorities for the K1billion (EUR 87 million) financial support for agricultural development under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).
“Reduction of rural poverty and improvement of livelihoods is one of the main objectives of the EU cooperation with Zambia, we believe that there cannot be a substantial reduction in poverty and malnutrition worldwide without improving livelihoods in rural areas, where small scale farmers form the core of the economy while often being the poorest of the poor,” he said.
He said the agriculture sector was a fundamental element of sustainable growth and diversification of the country’s economy.
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda appealed to the EU, for more financial support to the agriculture sector through the E-Voucher system to enable Government meet farmers’ needs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Mr Lubinda said the country was currently under pressure, as most of its neighbours did not have adequate maize and mealie-meal supplies, which had resulted in a hike of the commodity’s prices.
He said for this reason, the financial support would help give space to Government, to increase the supply of maize to the region which was also facing food availability challenges.
“I would like to draw your attention to the two immediate challenges that confront us as a nation. These are the needs for us to respond to a regional demand for food crops. This year, we need to increase the supply of maize to the region if local prices are to be affordable.
“On this score I wish to repeat my request to the EU to consider rendering financial support through the implementation of the E-voucher system to create space for Government to provide for more farmers under the conventional FISP to produce more grain for the sub region,” he said.
The minister said another challenge the country faced was that of poor nutrition among the people, hence the need for a strategy to address this matter.