Government has signed a 393-million-U.S. dollar agricultural infrastructure development project for the 200,000 hectares of Kalungwishi Farm Block in Mporokoso district

The deal signed with China Railway Seventh Group is for infrastructure development on a farming block.

The project’s construction period will run for three years, creating up to 35,000 jobs when the farming block starts operating.

Dora Siliya, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture said the signing of the agreement marks a milestone in the government’s endeavor to construct infrastructure in farming blocks.

She said government was committed to the development of farming blocks as a pre-requisite to diversify the country’s economy.

“Agriculture is the way to go if we are to develop our economy and we are happy that the Chinese have come forward to help us develop infrastructure in these farming blocks,” Siliya said.

Meanwhile more than 20 farms invested by Chinese nationals or companies are now operating in Zambia, introducing the advanced technologies, rich experiences and bringing modern demonstration effects to the agriculture sector.