AGRICULTURE Minister Mundia Sikatana says Government will this year ensure that farmers use agricultural lime from Ndola Lime.

Mr Sikatana said the lime, good for acidic soils, was going to waste at the company. It was mainly left after producing the industrial lime sold to Chilanga Cement and mining companies.

He said this when he toured the Ndola Lime stand at the Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show in Kitwe.

Mr Sikatana said Government would ensure that all the farmers used the agricultural commodity to ensure continued success.

"We have so many farmers in our programmes and we will ensure that each of them receives agricultural lime for use this year," he said.

And Ndola Lime stand manager Walubita Lubinda explained that the lime was in excess at their plant and that farmers needed to take advantage of the commodity.

Mr Lubinda said his company was selling the lime at as low as K15,000 per tonne in order to quickly dispose it off .

He said Ndola Lime was committed to ensuring that farmers continued to benefit from the products from its plant in Ndola.

Meanwhile, Mr Sikatana expressed happiness at the exhibits by various cooperatives at the show.

He said that showed the capacity of farmers in the production of food for Zambia.

Mr Sikatana said the excellent products exhibited in the cooperatives stand was encouraging and that such initiatives should be supported by all stakeholders.