Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have welcomed Government’s proposal to expand agricultural mechanisation centers saying the initiative has the potential to improve productivity and support the transition of small-scale farmers into commercial farming. Chief Executive…

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have welcomed Government’s proposal to expand agricultural mechanisation centers saying the initiative has the potential to improve productivity and support the transition of small-scale farmers into commercial farming.

Chief Executive Director of the Small Scale Farmers’ Development Agency, Boyd Moobwe says the proposal is a positive step towards modernising the agricultural sector and strengthening farmers’ capacity to increase production.

Mr Moobwe said mechanisation is important in helping farmers respond to changing climatic conditions such as drought, adding that this will improve agricultural performance and their economic standing.

Mr Moobwe has called for deliberate training and capacity-building programmes to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use agricultural machinery and manage their farms.

“We need to educate our farmers. We need to help farmers understand how they should use these tractors, how they should use these equipment, otherwise, it will be a drawback somehow,” he said.

He says farmer education is essential to ensure that mechanisation translates into improved productivity rather than poor equipment use and land management.

Meanwhile, Agricultural Expert, Oliver Bulaya says mechanisation is important in helping the country meet its agricultural production and export targets under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Mr Bulaya said the proposed establishment of agricultural mechanisation centers will bring agricultural equipment closer to farmers allowing them to hire machinery for land preparation and other farming activities.

He noted that the centers are also important in promoting modern farming technologies and improving productivity at farm level.

He has called on stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to strengthen awareness and extension services to encourage farmers to utilise the facilities.

Mr Bulaya added that mechanisation should also be accompanied by value addition to enable farmers to move beyond producing raw materials to create employment and increase income from exports.

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