7 November 2009
SOUTHERN Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe has called for increased Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the agricultural sector for increased growth.
Mr Hakayobe said if the PPPs were strengthened in the sector, then food security in Zambia would be guaranteed.
Mr Hakayobe said this when he held a meeting with various stakeholders at Environmental Bio Fuels International (EBFI) Farm on sustainable energy, food programme, water management and sanitation for the rural villages.
He said the project by EBFI was viable but asked management to bring on board all stakeholders, including the Government.
EBFI is scouting for $10 million to set up huge bio power plants burning Jatropha oil, initiate a food programme with the construction of 5,000 green houses, development of a shopping mall and various other projects at the farm situated on the Livingstone-Zimba Road.
And EBFI managing director David Weatherrall said the consultative meeting tackled food security and stabilising a long term sustainable energy programme for Zambia.
Mr Weatherrall said EBFI was fully aware of the deepening global concerns of climatic change and its devastating effects which required radical steps to secure the future.
He said the global financial crisis had a negative impact on the World Food Programme (WFP) which resulted in the organisation not having funds to feed the needy globally.
He said if implemented, the programme would create wealth for the communities and improve their living standards.
"I strongly believe that if we can create an environment within the rural villages giving people the benefits such as electricity, water, sanitation and a sustainable food programme, we can then move forward with an outgrowers scheme growing Jatropha plantation for the energy sector creating employment and financial securities," he said.
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