AGRICULTURE SECTOR MUST BE GIVEN PRIORITY, PELUM ZAMBIA SAYS

By Christopher Chisi

The Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management -PELUM Zambia says there is a need to give the agriculture sector more priority to ensure food security in the country.

#PELUM, Country Cordinator, Muketoi Wamunyima says this is in view of the looming food insecurity due to the poor rainfall pattern which the country experienced as well as the late distribution of farming inputs to farmers by the government.

And Mr Wamunyima noted that for the agriculture sector to develop there is a need for the media to strategically communicate positive social change and solutions that could help address not only issues of production but also environment and health.

He said this today during the ongoing three-day Ecological Organic Agriculture Training workshop for the media, in Lusaka.

The workshop aims at achieving two things namely, meeting the needs of journalists in understanding Ecological Organic Agriculture and creating a pool of journalists that will dedicate their work to promoting sustainable agriculture.

The workshop which has attracted journalists from all the ten provinces is a result of a need assessment that was done during the recently held media awards.

Speaking when she graced the training, Zambia News and Information Services -ZANIS Director, Loyce Saili urged Journalists not to only focus on challenges facing the agriculture sector but also on positives and opportunities by reporting on the best practices to help turn around the sector.

She noted that the agriculture sector remains significant to the country's development as a majority of the population in rural parts are in this sector thereby contributing significantly to the country's food security.