Govt plans mechanization centres nationwide

(NAIS) Government is considering establishing mechanization Service Centres in all the 116 districts in the country to ensure national food security.

Agriculture Permanent Secretary YVONNE MPUNDU says government will provide tractors, and various agricultural implements in a bid to increase crop production in the country.

Ms. MPUNDU said this in Kazungula when she paid a courtesy call on the District Commissioner ELIAS SIAMIBILA.

She said districts in the country with already established Farmer Training Centres have received tractors and diverse agricultural equipment and implements to serve as areas of excellence.

The Permanent Secretary explained that farmers are currently utilizing the tractors and agricultural implements to increase cultivated area consequently increasing crop production.

And Mr. SIAMIBILA is optimistic that the district is going to register a bountiful yield this season following government’s early distribution of inputs and good rainfall received.

He praised the ministry of agriculture for the early distribution of inputs to farmers in the country and allocating six bags of fertilizer to each farmer.

Meanwhile, Ms. MPUNDU called on farmers who benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme to sell part of their maize to the Food Reserve Agency –FRA- for strategic food reserve for food security.

She said farmers should fulfil the agreement as contained in the Bonding forms they signed.