By NCHIMUNYA MIYOBA
Gemcanton Investment Holdings Limited has donated 500 liters of pesticides valued at K140, 000 to help eradicate fall worms that have ravaged hectares of crop fields in Lufwanyma.
And Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe has urged the Ministry of Agriculture in the province to work hard and ensure that farmers are sensitized about fall army worms.
Speaking when he received the donation in Lufwanyama yesterday, Mr Nundwe said agricultural workers in the province should pull up efforts and educate farmers on how to eradicate the notorious pests as they have the potential to affects the food production in the country.
Mr Nundwe said it is the responsibility of the ministry of agriculture to teach farmers especially peasant farmers on how various pesticides are to be used to avoid over application and under application adding that it is not too late to bring to shape the affected fields.
Mr Nundwe said government gets disturbed to hear that farmer’s fields are been attacked by the notorious pests and as such the donation by Gemcanton will go long way in helping affected farmers.
He said Gemcanton means well to the communities in Lufwanyama as it is supplementing government efforts.
He has since thanked Gemcanton for coming on board in ensuring that food security in the district is not affected.
And Gemcanton Investment Holdings Corporate Affairs Manager Davy Phiri said the donation is one the main projects in the Corporate Social Responsibility programme of the company that is aimed at helping communities that live around and near the investment.
Mr Phiri said the company is aware that the use of pesticides is important to prevent high loss in food production produced by the subsistence farmers hence affecting income and food security.
Mr Phiri said 500 liters of pesticides will be distributed to all the six chiefdoms in the district and ensure that the fight for poverty and food security are achieved.
Speaking at the same event Chieftainess Shimukunami of the Lamba people thanked Gemcanton for the gesture that will help a lot of people in the chiefdoms.
Chieftainess Shimukunami said commended Gemcanton for coming on board every year to fight the pests hence improving food security for most households in the chiefdoms.
She said government cannot manage to do everything for the people in the chiefdoms hence the partnership with the private sector
