Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Evelyn Nguleka says President Edgar Lungu’s visit to this year’s Agritech Expo was a significant boost to the agricultural sector.The next Agritech Expo is expected to take place between April 14 and 16 2016, in Chisamba.
Dr Nguleka said it was encouraging that the second Agritech Expo held in Chisamba attracted more than 11, 700 visitors, including President Lungu, Vice-President Inonge Wina, the Zambian and German agriculture ministers and many other dignitaries and agriculture experts.
She said in a statement that the union will continue supporting programmes in the agricultural sector that aim at enhancing food security and better yields.
Over 100 exhibitors and 150 members of the press were also present at this year’s Expo.
“As the only business-to-business platform in the sector, Agritech Expo once again drew thousands of small-scale farmers as well as owners of commercial enterprises, to engage and conduct business with some of the world’s leading suppliers to the agricultural industry.
“From crop trials and machinery demonstrations, the event serviced the needs of the entire agriculture-value chain in Zambia and its neighbors. It is gratifying to note that the expo had support from farmers, agree-business firms and policy makers,” she said.
Dr Nguleka also said the livestock arena was one of the most interesting additions to this year’s expo with interest in livestock from all stakeholders.
She said the expo offered an opportunity for farmers to access the latest technology information to improve their production capacity and to become more competitive.
Local agriculture experts were also on hand to advise farmers on financial issues specific to the agricultural sector.
“The most discussed topic was access to the right technologies and mechanisation, as well as access to finance. ”It tells us that these are the most immediate needs among farmers in Zambia,”she said.
Source: daily-mail.com
