Kabwe DC commends KDCU initiative

Kabwe District Commissioner Patrick Chishala has commended the district cooperative union for investing in farming implements its members.

Mr Chishala said the gesture shows the commitment of the union to improve the lives of the its members and will go a long way in fighting hunger and poverty among the small-scale farmers in the district.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of two tractors to Kabwe district cooperative union, KDCU, at Kabwe Agricultural Research Institute today , the district commissioner said it is government’s intention to see the cooperatives thrive in their farming activities.

He said government appreciates and values cooperative unions like KDCU input in the implementation of government policies, especially those which are in line with the Sixth National Development Plan, whose prime aim is to sustain agricultural productivity and competitiveness among farmers.

Mr Chishala, however, appealed to farmers to guard the equipment jealously and ensure that they use it for the intended purpose.

He further advised KDCU to come up with an affordable price for the hire of the equipment to benefit every member.

And Kabwe District Cooperative Union Chairperson, Gabriel Ngosa has assured government that his cooperative will ensure that the equipment is used for the intended purpose.

Mr Ngosa said the two tractors which were purchased at a cost of  KR134, 000, each will help improve the lives of farmers and enable them to work with ease.

He further said his Union is ready and willing to partner with government and other stakeholders in as far as the building of capacity among small-scale farmers is concerned.

Mr Ngosa also assured government that the equipment will be used for the intended purpose because it is the vision of the Union to move from seasonal farming to diverse entrepreneurship.

And a small-scale farmer, Noah Sinkala, from Toteleni Cooperative thanked KDCU for purchasing agricultural equipment for the farmers which he said will enhance productivity.

Mr Sinkala said the gesture will also help revive cooperatives and encourage farmers to remain committed because most of them  were reluctant to join cooperatives due to poor performance in the recent past.