FDD president embark on an empowerment program

By Staff Reporter, Lusaka 

Opposition leader Edith Nawakwi has officially launched an empowerment program dubbed “Agriculture Start-Up Grants Program for Small Scale Farmers”. 

In her capacity as President for Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Ms. Nawakwi said it is evident that while the whole country has become bankrupt, the worst hit, are the farmers who have been kept poor by successive governments. 

During the launch she said this program is aimed at supporting small scale farmers with various high value agro products for a period of three years to enable them generate higher incomes and move them from peasantry to self-reliance. 

“It is equally designed to provide technical support that will enable farmers to increase productivity and diversify into agro-processing to add value to their produce,” explained Ms. Nawakwi. 

“As a party, we have embarked on a vigorous program of empowering farmers by providing them with Soya beans, Sun Flower and vegetable seed,” she added. 

Ms. Nawakwi said the initial number of farmers who will directly benefit from this program is 4000. These will include farmers from Chadiza, Chipata, Chisamba and Samfya Districts among other districts. 

She said small scale farmers contribute more than 80% of all the maize that we produce as a country. 

“The bulk of these farmers, who are breaking their backs to feed our nation are women,” disclosed Ms. Nawakwi. 

Ms. Nawakwi also pointed that time has come to empower farmers with high value crops and other agro-products that can generate enough income for their families and create employment for our youths.