Friday Brief Week 19, 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FRIDAY BRIEF WEEK 19, 2015 THIS Week’s Highlights ZNFU HOLDS MEETING OF COUNCIL FARM WORKERS AWARDED DURING LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS APPSA TO SUPPORT FARMERS FARMERS ADVISED TO GROW SOLID STEMMED BAMBOOS …... SEE DETAILED UPDATES BELOW…… INDUSTRY UPDATES/ALERTS ZNFU HOLDS MEETING OF COUNCIL The Zambia National Farmers ‘Union (ZNFU) held its Meeting of Council on Thursday, 7th May, 2015 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC). The meeting which brought in representatives from all the Union’s membership categories was chaired by the ZNFU president Dr. Evelyn Nguleka. The ZNFU Meeting of Council is held annually to deliberate on issues that affect the Union and the entire agricultural sector. During the deliberations, the chairperson informed the meeting that the government has since recognised the Union as a major stakeholder in the country’s Agricultural development. This follows the Union’s engagement of key government Ministries in a series of high profile dialogue meetings which have taken after the appointment of a new cabinet by the Republican President Mr. Edgar C. Lungu. She said that this recognition has even prompted government to further enhance collaboration with the Union to pilot the usage of the Visa card in the forthcoming Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) disbursement season, target to service at least 240,000 beneficiaries. The ZNFU meeting of Council attracted more than 120 councillors drawn from all the affiliated members countrywide. FARM WORKERS AWARDED DURING LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS A number of farm workers in Mkushi have deservedly been awarded with different gifts for their dedication to duty at the just-ended Labour Day celebrations in the District. The farm workers' servicing on the farms has been commended in line with this year's labour day under the theme,“ Promoting National Economic Growth Through Job Creation, Free Collective Bargaining and Respect For Workers’ Rights”.. Officiating at the celebrations, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Hon. Nicholas Banda (MP) indicated that government will continue promote National Economic Growth through creation of favourable policies that will propel the agricultural sector to create more jobs for the people. Speaking on behalf of Zambia Federation of Employers, Mr. Xander Firck, indicated that the federation is mindful that both employees and employers have rights that must be respected and protected, therefore, a spirit of sustained, effective and consistent dialogue among all stakeholders is indispensable to resolving any issues that might arise as well as to maintaining industrial peace and harmony. APPSA TO SUPPORT FARMERS Some selected groups of farmers in Chikankata and Mazabuka Districts will be benefiting from the World Bank funded program, Agriculture Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA). The aim of the program is to improve productivity among small scale farmers in specific crops such as soya bean and groundnuts whose inputs are being provided. This program is encouraging farmers to enhance their production through crop diversification with the view to reduce dependence on maize crop which has market challenges and high cost of production. Addressing a group of farmers during an APPSA field day at Simutwe Agricultural camp of Chikankata District, National Coordinator Mr. Milambo Laston called on the farmers to join and benefit from the program. FARMERS ADVISED TO GROW SOLID STEMMED BAMBOOS Farmers have being advised to grow solid stemmed bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) as climate change mitigation strategy. The bamboo which is a drought resistant shrub tree is able to grow nicely in our climatic conditions and can help reduce stress on our natural forestry due to its numerous benefits. Speaking to the ZNFU, Arulussa Limited Director Mr. Kimani of Chisamba district stated that the solid stemmed Bamboo has numerous benefits to the farming community of which some include; source of bamboo charcoal briquettes for household cooking, fish-traps, horticultural or garden stakes, leaves as fodder, plants for hedges, windbreaks, as ornamental plants, soil erosion control and rehabilitation of degraded sites, biomass production, quality raw material for building, flower/horticultural stands among other uses. Mr. Kimani further emphasized that the bamboo is one reliable solution to prevention of deforestation as it is a continuous source of charcoal briquettes for household cooking. NEWS FROM ASSOCIATIONS BENEFITS OF EATING YOGURT A high intake of yogurt has been found to be associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes; this is, according to research published in open access journal BMC Medicine. This highlights the importance of having yogurt as part of a healthy diet. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells develop resistance to insulin. There is an increased risk of developing it if a relative has the condition or if an individual has an unhealthy lifestyle. Approximately 366 million people are affected by type 2 diabetes worldwide and it is estimated this will increase to 552 million people by 2030, which puts pressure on global healthcare systems. Previous research has suggested calcium, magnesium, or specific fatty acids present in dairy products may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that probiotic bacteria found in yogurt improves fat profiles and antioxidant status in people with type 2 diabetes and the researchers suggest this could have a risk-lowering effect in developing the condition. Senior researcher on the study Frank Hu, Harvard School of Public Health, says: "We found that higher intake of yogurt is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas other dairy foods and consumption of total dairy did not show this association. The consistent findings for yogurt suggest that it can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern." Let’s take that cup of yogurt it may keep the doctor away. NEWS FROM THE REGIONS CENTRAL REGION INDO ZAMBIA BANK CONSTRUCTS A BANKING HALL IN SERENJE DISTRICT Indo Zambia bank has commenced the construction of a banking hall in Serenje district. The project when completed will provide Serenje residents especially farmers with the most needed extra banking services and will reduces the challenges of accessing money during marketing season. Farmers in the district are upbeat about this development and are hopeful that the trend of spending nights on the corridors of the bank while waiting for payments will soon be a thing of the past. FARMERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE MAIZE FLOOR PRICE Farmers in Chibombo district are appealing to government to announce the maize floor price early this year. This came to light during deliberations at a number of Information Centre Annual General Meetings which are currently underway in the district. Farmers bemoaned that brief case buyers are already on the ground and offering exploitative maize prices ranging between K30 per 50kg bag. With the droughts that hit the district most farmers are hoping that government will announce the floor price above last year’s price. The farmers have since called for ZNFU to quickly push for a better price for their produce. Meanwhile, Senior Chief Chipepo of the Lenje speaking People in Kabwe district has cautioned farmers against selling their produce to brief case buyers. He has advised farmers to be patient and wait for maize flow prices and not to sale their hard earned produce at exploitative prices. EASTERN B REGION ASI TRAINS STAKEHOLDERS IN POST HARVEST HANDLING The Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) in Nyimba District this week conducted a Post-Harvest Handling (PHH) training to the stakeholders that are working with farmers in the District, and ZNFU is among the organizations that took part in the training. The aim of the training was to impart the stakeholders with knowledge and skills in management and handling of crop losses that occur during harvesting through to marketing. The training focused much on how to handle three major crops grown by small scale farmers namely; Soya beans, Ground nuts and Maize because it has been discovered that farmers lose a lot of crop through handling hence affecting productivity per unity area. During the same training ASI also shared the scope of the project they are implementing in the district called the Women Improved Market and Asset Control (WIMAC). In this project the organization is aiming at empowering women with training in market access and career opportunities in farming, as it is also a business and that Women should play a leading role when it comes to farming business as they are involved in every stage of production. EVERY HOME FOR CHRIST TO COLLABORATE WITH ZNFU Every Home for Christ a Christian based organization has pledged to enhance its collaboration with ZNFU in Katete District in fostering development to the farming communities. Speaking when he graced the field day which was organized by CFU and Pioneer, Mr. Richard Kakuwa the Director for the Organization called on farmers to join ZNFU and make use of the services which the Union is offering to its members in the District. He observed that most of the farmers were used to receiving free things and hand-outs hence the need to change the mind set to the level where farmers should start having the sense of ownership. He encouraged the farmers to form ICs and also embrace conservation agriculture due to climate change which has negatively impacted on the farmers this season. MUCHINGA REGION ISOKA DC LAUDS ZNFU SERVICES The District Administrative Officer (DAO) for Isoka Mr. Gershom Jere who represented the District Commissioner for Isoka during the road show organized by ZNFU Muchinga region office and SARO Agro Industrial Company limited, Mkushi branch expressed happiness with the services ZNFU is providing to the farmers. This came to light during the road show that was held on Monday 4th May, 2015 at President Park where the event took place.