Govt gives thumps up to agriculture partnerships

Speaking last evening during the launch of a partnership between MRI Seed and Syngenta in Lusaka, Agriculture Deputy Minister, Rodgers Mwewa, says the partnership has come at the right time when government is implementing policies aimed at empowering local farmers.

Mr. Mwewa says government will continue to work closely with both local and foreign investors to ensure that the plight of the farmers is enhanced.

He has since urged the two investors to continue working hard and be supportive to the government in empowering farmers with quality farmer inputs.

Speaking earlier, MRI Managing Director, Vladimir Ristanovic, expressed confidence that the partnership will be beneficial to most local farmers.

Mr. Ristanovic says as his firm joins Syngenta, their commitment will not change but will be reinforced by their global expertise and advanced technology capacity.

And Syngenta Representative, Ivan Gonzalez, says Syngenta’s investment in MRI Seed is a major milestone and the combined forces will improve the productivity and competiveness of farmers in Zambia.

Mr. Gonzalez says the partnership will be guided by a mission to help improve the livelihoods of growers in Zambia and across the region regardless of whether they are smallholders or large scale farmers.