GOVERNMENT has called on farmers in Southern Province to start growing onion and garlic for export to other countries.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Namani Moonze, said President Hakainde Hichilema has called for a ban on the importation of onion and garlic and ready found international market for the local farmers.
Dr. Moonze was speaking during a farmer orientation meeting on out-grower scheme for onion and garlic production organised by Social Economic Empowerment and Development (SEED) and the Cross Border Network for Africa in Munyumbwe area of Gwembe.
“President Hichilema promised you jobs and this is the beginning of job creation. There is a lot of money in onion and garlic production and this is why he is stopping importation of these farm products so that he can empower the local farmers,” he said.
He said the Government, in partnership with SEED Cross Border Network and Saro Agro Equipment, are working on an irrigation scheme programme on onion and garlic production in Southern province.
The scheme targets to cover 5,000 hectares with at least 312 hectares per district.
He said Gwembe is one the districts that has been selected adding that the only remaining thing is to identify land and water points.
Dr. Moonze has meanwhile appealed to the local leadership to help provide land for the intended irrigation scheme.
He also explained that the onion and garlic out-grower scheme can only be done through formation of cooperatives and clubs by the local farmers.
He said government has also engaged SARO Agro Equipment in the scheme so that cooperatives can buy farming equipment at affordable prices.
He also urged the farmer cooperatives to access and utilise the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by coming up with projects on onion and garlic production.
Meanwhile, Gwembe District Council Chairperson, Collet Ndhlovu, said land for the irrigation scheme is available in Chabbobboma area.
Mr. Ndhlovu said 287 hectares of land was already cleared for an abandoned irrigation scheme and that it is available for onion and garlic irrigation schemes.
He said the initiative is very much welcome to Gwembe, adding that it will help provide sustainable livelihoods to the people in the district.
Mr. Ndhlovu also appealed to the farmers and the youths to quickly register their cooperatives and clubs so that they can access CDF and be part of the irrigation scheme.
And speaking at the same occasion, Gwembe District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Imbuwa Mushebwa said equipment such as tractors, planters and sprayers are already there in Chabbobboma.
Mr. Mushebwa said there was therefore need for farmers to commit themselves to implement the project.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture, through the SCHLARA project, has also constructed industrial boreholes in Lukonde, Fumbo and Sompani wards. – ZANIS/
