HH pledges to address East agric challenges

LUMEZI – President Hakainde Hichilema has unequivocally pledged his administration's commitment to resolving the persistent challenges hindering agricultural productivity and growth within Lumezi district, Eastern Province. Speaking to a large gathering during a community engagement meeting at Lumezi Primary School, the Head of State emphasized that agriculture remains the cornerstone of Zambia's economic diversification strategy and a critical pathway out of poverty for many rural households. The President's address comes at a crucial time for Eastern Province, a region historically celebrated for its robust agricultural output, particularly in maize, groundnuts, and tobacco. However, farmers in Lumezi, like many across the country, have grappled with a spectrum of obstacles. These include the escalating costs of farming inputs such as fertiliser and improved seeds, erratic rainfall patterns exacerbated by climate change, limited access to credit facilities, inadequate storage infrastructure, and poor market linkages that often leave farmers at the mercy of middlemen. President Hichilema assured the Lumezi community that his government is actively devising and implementing comprehensive strategies to mitigate these issues. He highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to ensure timely and equitable distribution of subsidies, as well as initiatives to promote climate-resilient farming practices. Furthermore, the President reiterated the importance of investing in rural road networks to facilitate easier transportation of produce to markets and the establishment of agro-processing industries to add value to raw agricultural products locally. Addressing concerns about market access, President Hichilema indicated that the government is exploring both domestic and international markets for Zambian produce, aiming to secure better prices for farmers. He also spoke about the need to strengthen agricultural extension services, en