Agriculture merchandise company CAMCO is optimistic that its implements can help to boost agricultural production and support wealth creation.
“The equipment we are supplying helps and continues to support job, wealth creation and value addition. But jobs can only be created with investment and where the youths have skills,” said CAMCO group chairperson Li Tie.
CAMCO operating five branches in five provinces including the headquarters for the southern region has set aside K1 million to invest in the next three years in training programme for agriculture mechanisation. The development has pleased both government and the farming community.
The company’s decision to train farmers and Ministry of Agriculture officials across the country is in line with President Lungu’s call to stakeholders to help small-scale farmers mechanise agricultural production and also ensure that agricultural diversification takes centre stage so that the agriculture sector becomes the mainstay of the economy of Zambia.
Meanwhile Michael Katambo, Minister of Agriculture said government has priotised agriculture as the backbone of the economy, acknowledging that agriculture has advanced with a lot of technologies.
He said farmers of all categories should mechanise in order to enhance agricultural productivity.
“This government has priotised agriculture as the backbone of the economy for our country. The agriculture sector creates almost 70 percent of employment, especially for our womenfolk.
“Agriculture now has advanced with a lot of technologies. And so when we say we want to enhance production and productivity in all categories of farming, our farmers are supposed to have access to this mechanised equipment that CAMCO is offering,” Katambo said.
Katambo is also hopeful that farmers would be able to access modern implements of farming through micro-finance companies.
Currently the biggest challenge for most peasants is lack of access to mechanised tools of farming and ignorance of climate smart farming practices.
