By Josiah Mpofu
Chief Chitembo of the Ng'umbo people in Chifunabuli district, Luapula Province, has appreciated the government's decision to empower over 1,000 women-headed households in the district with Livestock.
The traditional leader said the distribution of goats in the district clearly demonstrates the government’s intention to improve rural livelihoods.
Chief Chitembo noted that the government's goodwill in ending poverty and hunger in the district is evident in the empowerment of women and youths through various empowerment programs.
“I appreciate the government for implementing several empowerment programs in my chiefdom, including livestock stocking and restocking and promotion of fish cage farming. I’m optimistic that Cage Fish farming will reduce overfishing that has resulted in the depletion of fish in several Zambian water bodies,” explained Chief Chitembo.
The traditional leader emphasized that such good interventions can only be undertaken by a caring government.
The traditional leader said this when Fisheries and Livestock Minister Peter Kapala paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Chifunabuli district.
And Mr Kapala disclosed that government has put in place measures aimed at helping Luapula Province become a hub of livestock productivity and fish farming.
He affirmed that government is determined to ensure that smallholder Livestock investment becomes Zambia's main driver of economic diversification program.
“The Livestock stocking and restocking program is aimed at bettering the livelihoods of people in rural areas. Government is determined to ensure that smallholder Livestock investment becomes Zambia's main driver of economic diversification program and a gate way to economic empowerment for rural majority,” noted Mr Kapala.
Mr Kapala however encouraged more women and youths to form cooperatives for them to receive training and benefit from several government empowerment programs.
“Government will continue with its efforts to deliver for the people, it will focus on empowering women and youths in rural communities with Livestock packages to maximize employment creation, reduce malnutrition, improve household incomes and poverty reduction for the Zambian people. I wish to encourage more women and youths to form cooperatives and receive training to benefit from government empowerment programs,” indicated Mr Kapala.
He noted that government will continue promoting Livestock farming as a business.
“Government will continue promoting Livestock farming as a business. We expect farmers to take advantage of neighbouring countries and become big suppliers of various Livestock products. Livestock and restocking initiative is supposed to be a pass-on program, and every beneficiary is supposed to pass on the gift to the next member of the community,” stated Mr. Kapala.
So far over 200 goats have been distributed to 26 groups across all the 13 wards of Chifunabuli district with a total of 1000 female headed households benefitting.
The move by the government to empower these women is a sure way to end hunger and bettering rural livelihoods.
The author is a reporter at the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) in Zambia
