*By MacPherson Mukuka in Lusaka*
Agriculture Minister GIVEN LUBINDA says his Ministry
intends to make conservation agriculture the official means of increasing farm productivity
among small scale farmers and emergent producers in the country.
Mr. LUBINDA says most small scale farmers in rural areas
experience relatively higher poverty levels due to low production and productivity
and consequent food insecurity.
He says average maize yields among small scale
farmers have been reducing from about 3 metric tonnes per hectare at independence
to the current 1 point 3 metric tonnes per hectare thereby making some
households food insecure.
Speaking during the handover of 70 Motor bikes to
extension officers under the conservation Agriculture Scaling up project, Mr.
LUBINDA says transport challenges has inhibited the ability by of field staff
to effectively reach out to the intended beneficiaries of the project.
He says provision of the motor bikes will enhance
provision of technical information and extension services on conservation
agriculture to farmers.
Meanwhile, Mr. LUBINDA has cautioned all beneficiary
staff to look after the motorbikes and use it for the intended purposes.
And Food Agriculture Organisation Country representative
GEORGE OKECH says FAO has continued to provide technical and material support
in various fields in the agriculture sector.
Mr. OKECH says the CASU project has piloted a number
of initiatives critical to the delivery of extension services to farmers.
He says farmers a now able to receive and ask extension
services through SMS, which enable them to chat with various expertise.
He further says the project is also implementing
routine monitoring and reporting by extension officers which has contributed immensely
towards the improvement of farmer to extension officer contacts.
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