ECONOMIC ANALYST CALLS FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS EMPOWERMENT

WE need to see more small-scale farmers being empowered country wide if we are to mitigate the economic development and growth in the country, Economic Analyst Joseph Mulenga has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mulenga said the small-scale farmers played an important role in the Zambian economy and national food security.

“We want to see these small-scale farmers be empowered so that we can mitigate our economic development because small-scale farmers play an important role in ensuring the country is food secure,” he said.

Mr. Mulenga suggested that the government should incorporate political independence with economic independence by ensuring that small scale farmers in Zambia are provided with the necessary economic incentives.

“It would be a good idea if the government considered incorporating political independence as well as economic independence and ensuring small-scale farmers are provided with all economic incentives such as land and human development to enhance community-based enterprise development which is a dependable path to strengthen modernized rural farming communities,” he said.

He said it was imperative that the government enhance meaningful political independence by ensuring that poverty levels are reduced by 65% both in rural and urban areas.

“Government should fight against dependency of foreign aid and the private and public sector partnerships should also be demonstrated in farming communities to address the current high cost of living. There is a need to engage and facilitate growth potential of the grassroots, economic development and ensuring household and national food security through increased crop production and value addition.

Therefore, political independence without full time economic independence amongst Zambians would not yield positive outcomes. It is important that government empowers small scale farmers at all costs and should not subject small-scale farmers to commercial banks’ condition and legations at their infant stage.  Government should remove the loan facility from the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development and place it under the Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.

Mr. Mulenga said the Ministry of Agriculture should be engaged to deal with all aspects of agriculture’s production and incorporate value addition, marketing and investment systems with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development.

“The cabinet office should not absolve all policy and planning duties and responsibilities and not make any public pronouncements before consulting public and private stakeholders because doing so can lead to failed programs and projects,” he said.