2)—Serenje farmers want banking facilities

–Small scale farmers in Serenje district have bemoaned the lack of commercial banks in the area from which to access funds to help boost agriculture in the area.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview today, Serenje farmers association chairperson Ernest Daka said small scale farmers in the district have not made a positive impact because they are not economically viable.

Mr Daka has called on Commercial banks in the country to open branches in Serenje which will help Small Scale farmers borrow and bank their money.

Mr Daka said the only bank in the district, Finance bank is not enough to cope with the banking demands of the farmers.

He said Serenje farmers need banks that are agricultural related with the interest of small scale farmers.

“There can be no development without banks. Farmers cannot be financially sound if there are not banks to borrow from,” he said.

The chairperson who urged Finance bank to offer facilities which can enable farmers access loans with minimum delays said Serenje is a predominantly agricultural area and the farmers have potential to attract vegetable canning factories.

He further called on chiefs in the area to recommend small scale farmers for land title so that they can qualify to be emergent farmers to grow more than five hectares of land.