PIDACC boosts Mwinilunga mechanisation

Government through the Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) has over the last one year handed over an assortment of agriculture mechanisation equipment to three wards in Mwinilunga…

Government through the Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) has over the last one year handed over an assortment of agriculture mechanisation equipment to three wards in Mwinilunga District of North-western Province.

The equipment which include three tractors, three rippers with calter and crumbler, three maize shellers, three Boom sprayers, three multicrop planters and three trailers have been procured at the cost of overK5.1 million.

District Agricultural Coordinator Lewis Chiwele said the agricultural equipment has been distributed to Chibwika, Ntambu and Kakoma wards to support farmers and build resilience against the effects of climate change.

Mr Chiwele explained that the equipment has brought about agricultural efficiency as farmers are now able to prepare their fields, harvest and shell their crop within a short period of time while implements such as trailers are being used to transport their farm produce to markets and satellite depots.

“This program has proven that this support can improve the efficiency of our farming operations, most of our farmers have had challenges to prepare their land, to harvest, to shell, now with this support our farmers are able to save time” he said.

He said the program is equally critical in contributing to the government’s target of 10 million metric tonnes of annual maize production by 2031 adding that farmers in the three wards are eager to utilize the equipment to increase their agricultural productivity.

Boaz Mukanzu a farmer in Kamfumbu area of Chibwika ward thanked the government for implementing the PIDACC project stating that it has afforded him efficiency and reduced production cost.

Mr Mukanzu said using the machinery, he was able to cultivate over three hectares within a day and shell his maize on time which previously took him months to do.

“We thank the government because this project has significantly reduced our manual labour and we now can shell maize or cultivate as much as three hectares in a day,” he said.

The PIDACC project targets to build resilience in farmers that are vulnerable to effects of climate change through mechanisation in communities along the Zambezi river basin.