Premiercon Starch Company Limited Chief Executive Officer Lubasi Yuyi has welcomed the Vice president Madam Inonge Wina’s call for diversification of agricultural products to crops which are climate change resilient such as Cassava, Millet and Sweet potatoes among others.
The Vice president Inonge Wina is in record to have stated that government is eager to grow the contribution of draught resistant crops basket and double their production level through other crops aside maize, saying they have potential to greatly contribute to the growth of the industry if only farmers consider to diversify.
Yuyi told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in exclusive interview that the consumption of other non-maize starchy foods is a welcome move and has since called on government to expedite the passing of legislation to blend cassava with maize into mealie meal and increase the uptake of day cassava which he said is a climate change resistant crop.
He added that the consumption of sweet potatoes starch can be increased by passing legislation to blend sweet potatoes starch into edible snacks such as biscuits, crisps, conflaks etc. Yuyi has also asked government to prioritize research into development of seed stock that are drought tolerant for maize adding that improved seed stock for cassava is limited in the country and cannot support the demand that is currently existing in cassava value chain for industrial usage.
He noted the need to further investment into early warning systems of climatic monitoring and timely delivery of inputs to enable farmers plant on time and maximize in high yield. “Improved extension service will ensure that farmers plant on time and therefore get the benefits which will result in high yield”.
“Government should consider promoting industrial crops like guar in drought prone areas like Southern and Western Province because guar has been thrived where rainfall is 700mm or less. This crop has multiple industrial usage and can help in rural industrialization,” he said.
Yuyi has since called on farmers to switch to cassava, sweet potatoes and yams and grow them as cash crops and supply to Premiercon limited saying the crops are drought resistant, low input and can enable one raise more money per unit area comparatively to maize.
