By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
KITWE District Farmers Cooperative Union (KDFCU) has come up with a mechanism which will see more members access farming inputs and livestock loans.
The cooperative has used funds from membership contributions to create a revolving fund dubbed “Pass On” to be accessed by its members in the district.
KDFCU chairperson Macdonald Mweemba said in an interview in Kitwe that so far eight goats and a number of chickens had been given out under the new intervention to empower members in the district.
“We have come up with a special mechanism in the district to empower our members who have started accessing animals and farming inputs from the same membership contribution. As I am talking eight heads of goat have been given out,” Mr Mweemba said.
He said the loan facility would also include giving out chicks, fertilisers, seeds among other inputs to farmers showing potential but lacking such facilities to expand their farmland.
He said the cooperative was also assessing available funds to start rolling out seed and fertiliser distribution before the onset of rains.
Mr Mweemba said the district had a lot of potential for farming, adding that being centrally located, Kitwe could feed the entire province if farmers had access to inputs.
The district has about 400 member groupings which include clubs and associations.
