Resettlement Schemes to be Transformed into Production Hubs

By Sharon Siame

Government says resettlement schemes will be transformed into production hubs by enhancing productivity.

Permanent Secretary for Resettlement in the Office of the Vice President MAVIS NKOMESHYA says governmnet wants to increase active age groups in Resettlements and strengthen coordination of resettlement services.

She says early recovery and resilience building remain the cornerstones of the resettlement programme and that her office is focusing more on the smallholder farmers.

Ms. NKOMESHYA said this during the second sector meeting for livelihood programme in Meheba and Mayukwayukwa in Lusaka today.

She said during the last sector meeting in 2023, various challenges that small holder farmers face were brought to light such as market linkages, low participation of women and access to extension services.

Ms. NKOMESHYA said the revised Resettlement Policy of 2024 that was recently approved by Government aims to address all those concerns.

And Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Coordinator MAKIKO SAN said that 60 percent of targeted farmers increased their income from vegetable production after undergoing training under the Project.

Ms. SAN however bemoaned the dependency syndrome among some farmers, especially the former refugees and illiteracy of some selected farmers.