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By BERTHA PATA
Kansanshi Mining plc has supported 5,000 farmers with inputs totaling K2,000,000 under the conservation farming programme for this year’s farming season.
Kansanshi Mine Environmental and Social Governance Manager Arnold Malambo revealed this during the flagging off of the input distribution in Solwezi.
Mr. Malambo says with the early distribution of inputs, farmers are expected to increase their production this farming season.
“As Kansanshi conservation we contributed 10,000 metric tonnes of maize to the national production despite the drought that we faced as a country, but we are optimistic that our farmers are going to contribute even more this year with this early distribution of inputs,” he said.
Mr. Malambo disclosed that this year the mining company under conservation farming has support farmers with inputs worth US$2,000,000.
“This year we are supporting 5,000 farmers at a total cost of K54 million or US$2,000,000. With weather focus that has been presented to us we have hope that we should be able to produce more than we produced last year,” he said.
And gracing the event, North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Colonel Grandson Katambi praised Kansanshi Mine for complementing government efforts by supporting farmers in their catchment area with farming inputs.
Col. Katambi further described the support as a significant milestone, as the programme will enhance national food security in the country.
“For a home to be respected, there must be food and this is what you are doing. We are grateful to Kansanshi for what you are doing, let this continue so that our people are food sufficient” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, however appealed to the farmers to put the inputs to good use.
“Please my people do not be cheated put in a lot of effort produce more and be thankful for what you have been given,” he added
Provincial Agricultural Coordinator Muyobo Shimabale who was represented by the senior field crops and husbandry officer Austine Nakanga also thanked kansanshi mine for the good corroboration with the Ministry of Agriculture in serving the farmers.
“As a Ministry we are so thankful to the mine through Kansanshi Foundation for the good corroboration, climate change is here to stay and if you compare what the mine is promoting conservation farming to conventional farming you find that conservation farming is giving more yields,” he said.

He since appealed to the farmers to put the inputs to good use.
“ I encourage our famers to put the inputs to good use so that we are food secure ,you have heard the numbers being supported over 5 thousand meaning our famers will be food secure” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries Maheka Mutobe thanked the mine working with the government for the support provided to farmers.