President Edgar Lungu acknowledged that the tobacco industry has the potential to increase foreign exchange earnings for the country but that the industry has been faced with a number of challenges arising from archaic regulatory frameworks which now require urgent amendments.
The head of state said that there is need to diversify the sector from its current status to a commercialized and export-oriented position in order to fully exploit its potential. He was speaking when he addressed delegates at the just ended Agritech expo in chisamba district.
“I am aware that the tobacco industry has the potential to increase foreign exchange earnings for Zambia but the industry is faced with challenges arising from regulatory frame work which now require amendment,” he said
H says the ministry of agriculture has taken a strong stance towards resolving some of these challenges by engaging the concerned stakeholders and is confident that lasting solutions will be found in the shortest possible time.
President Lungu also called for the suspension of maize export until the country takes stock of its food holdings and requirements. He has since directed that farmers that are still owed by FRA after selling their crops to the agency be paid in good time.
He adds that inputs for 2019/20 farming season must be distributed to farmers before the onset of the rains to avoid late farming practice. The head of state has also called for dialogue on the pricing of crops particularly soya beans where farmers are complaining of low prices.
“We need to diversify the agriculture sector from its current status to a commercialized and export-oriented position in order to fully explore its potential,” he said. President Lungu has since hailed farmers for their resilience in the just ended agriculture season amid prolonged dry spell that affected some parts of the country especially in the Southern, Central and Parts of Lusaka province.
