THE Government has released K700 million as part-payment towards the revival of the Kalungwishi State Ranch in Mporokoso in Northern Province.

In August this year, the Ministry of Agriculture released K1 billion towards the purchase of a motor vehicle for the manager at the farm and the remainder to be used for infrastructure development on the farm.

In an interview from Kasama yesterday, Northern Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba said the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, had released K700 million, bringing the total amount to K1.7 billion.

Mr Mwamba said the money would be used for further infrastructure development within the farm in readiness for the full resumption of operations at the ranch.

"There have been major developments taking place at the State ranch. As you might be aware, the Ministry of Agriculture has just released the money it promised to pump into the project," Mr Mwamba said.

The ranch is located in Mporokoso District and it has 46,000 hectares of land for pastures.

It can accommodate thousands of animals once fully developed.

The Government early this year promised to provide an initial K5 billion to ensure that the ranch, which has been lying idle for the last 20 years, was revived to benefit the local people.

This was in Government's quest to encourage cattle, goat and pig rearing while ensuring that milk collection centres and farmer training centres were revamped.