FOOD SECURITY

By HAPPY MULOLANI THE Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) has implored agriculture and livestock field staff to contribute towards improved food security and incomes of smallholder farmers in the country. E-SAPP Programme Manager Kwibisa Liywalii said staff play a key role in achieving food security and increased income through the programme’s value chain interventions. Mr Liywalii made the call in Kabwe during a programme coordination and implementation workshop which drew participants from all ten provinces in the country which includes Senior Marketing Officers, Provincial Agricultural Planners and other stakeholders from Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. And E-SAPP Monitoring and Evaluation Manager Christopher Kambole said the programme appreciates the critical role of staff and key stakeholders in identifying and exchange of knowledge with the E-SAPP environment as this will result in shared learning for smallholder farmers, stakeholders and partners. Speaking at the same event, Central Province Provincial Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator Dr Alishekwe Mutemwa urged agriculture and livestock staff to work collaboratively with the programme and other stakeholders in its endeavour to empower smallholder farmers with appropriate skills and knowledge to uplift their livelihoods. The programme coordination and implementation workshop seeks to promote effective team building through coordinated planning, implementation and shared learning. It also aims at streamlining implementation mechanisms, strategies as well as define roles and responsibilities which will also provide an avenue to inform and prepare E-SAPP service providers and other implementing partners in the agriculture sector. E-SAPP is a seven year programme under the Ministry of Agriculture funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme is valued at a total cost of US$29.7 million. Its overall objective is to contribute towards enhancing smallholder farmers’ livelihoods through improved food security and increased income.