Government opening one million hectares of land for agricultural purposes.

Government is opening one million hectares of land for agricultural purposes as part of creating jobs among the youths across the country.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Given Lubinda disclosed this when he officiated at AgriProFocus Agri-Business Finance Fair in Chipata yesterday.
Mr. Lubinda says that the government is intending to open up agricultural blocks in all the provinces like Nansanga agricultural block in Central Province, which will also increase food production of the country.
The minister also says that the country needs to double up food production by 60 per cent before 2060 through crop diversification.
And speaking earlier AgriProFocus Country Coordinator, Claire Van Der Kleij says the organisation aims to improve collaboration between different actors in agricultural value chains by establishing business connections.
She explained that 520 have joined AgriProFocus Zambia, adding that the network would like to double its membership to 1,000.
And Netherlands Development Organisation SNV Country Operations Manager, Bwali Ndau says small scale farmers in rural Zambia face an array of obstacles that inhibit their optimum participation in the Zambian economy.
Mr Ndau also observed that small scale farmers are facing problems securing access to credit and are not often served by traditional financial institutions.
Meanwhile Chipata Finance Bank Branch Manager, Anderson Zulu says farmers should start saving to enable them get inputs on time.