Northern Province PS urges farmers to take advantage of the good climatic conditions in the province at 1st Quarter 2024 PDCC Meeting.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard Mpundu, has urged farmers in the province to take proactive measures and safeguard their maize crop.
Mr Mpundu said people should ensure that they keep enough food for household consumption.
He said it would be sad for people in the province, which is among the areas that have recorded good rains and expect a good harvest, to start complaining of hunger and high mealie meal prices.
“The country has only recorded good rains in three provinces: Northern, Luapula, and Muchinga, and this is the only place we expect to have a good harvest. It will be sad if we start complaining about the prices of mealie meal,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary said this when he officially opened the 2024 first quarter Provincial Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) meeting in Kasama.
This is in light of the recent declaration of a national disaster after some parts of the country were affected by the prolonged drought.
Mr. Mpundu has since urged people in the province to take advantage of the good climatic conditions in the province to acquire land and engage in farming.
He expressed concerns over the impending food crisis and the rapid increase in living costs.
He noted the gravity of the situation but indicated government’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of its citizens in response to these challenges.
Mr. Mpundu highlighted that the declaration of a national disaster underscores the government’s commitment to mobilize resources and implement effective strategies to address the crisis.
He also emphasized the urgency stressed by the President for calling for proactive measures from all stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the drought and safeguard the well-being of Zambian citizens.
Mr. Mpundu further urged smallholder farmers in the province and the private sector to consider agricultural mechanization and leverage the favorable agriculture policies established by the government.
Meanwhile, Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lewis Mwape, urged all government heads of departments to fully dedicate themselves to meeting the expectations of communities.
“We have pledged honesty and commitment to uphold strong ethical and moral principles of integrity, honour, and good character in our conduct of business,” he affirmed.
Dr. Mwape expressed gratitude to cooperating partners for their unwavering financial and material support, which ensured the successful holding of the meeting.
By Gladys Nyirenda
ZANIS
