Zambia’s food security position is very strong

FMCG SUPPLIER NEWS

LusakaTimes.com/ ZANIS - Nov 20th, 10:50

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Bob Sichinga has disclosed that Zambia was on a strong position in terms of food security in the African region. 

Mr. Sichinga said Zambia was among the countries that have a strong grain stock in the region apart from Mozambique.

He said this is according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) review meeting which was held in Maputo, Mozambique in June this year.

He said although the country was expected to export some of the grain to needy countries in the next few months, Zambia will still have a carryover stock of 500,000 metric tonnes for emergencies.

The minister was speaking when he featured on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) programme dubbed “Government Forum” and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Sichinga has commended the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) for meeting the deadline of producing the required tonnes of fertiliser for distribution to the farmers in the country.

Mr. Sichinga has also disclosed that the second consignment of the 50,000 metric ones of Urea fertilizer, which government purchased from Saudi Arabia, has arrived at the Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania.

He said Luapula province has already received part of the urea fertiliser while the remaining will be distributed to Muchinga, Eastern, Southern and Northern Provinces.

Mr. Sichinga said government was committed to ensure that seed and fertiliser inputs meant for the farmers in the country were distributed in good time.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sichinga has dispelled rumours of the presence of inferior fertiliser on the Zambian market.

He said according to the recent market survey conducted by his ministry and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), the alleged inferior fertiliser was that which other people were selling in unlabelled sacks.

From LusakaTimes.com