We won’t allow starvation – minister
Written by Millennium on August 12, 2019
SILUMESI MALUMO writes
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is committed to serving all Zambians and will not let anyone starve, especially in areas which were hit by a prolonged dry spell, Minister in the Office of the Vice President Olipa Phiri has said.
Ms Phiri said Government acknowledged the effects of climate change on agriculture, President Lungu would never let any Zambian starve.
She was speaking when she distributed bags of mealie meal to the disabled and the aged in several parts of Eastern Province yesterday.
said the distribution of maize was aimed at mitigating poor harvests experienced in some parts of the country as a result of the dry spell in the 2018/2019 farming season.
She advised farmers who had good yields to sell their commodities to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) instead of small-scale buyers.
She said Government, through the FRA, would always be there for Zambians in times of need, unlike the briefcase buyers.
In times of poor yields Government would always give back to the local people in the same areas where it bought the maize.
Ms Phiri paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Kalindawalo, who thanked the Patriotic Front government’s efforts in alleviating hunger.
Chief Kalindawalo thanked President Lungu for the fight against climate change, which had caused low yields in some parts of the country.
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