HH Urges Farmers to Invest in Energy to Boost Agricultural Diversification

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on farmers with the capacity to increase their investments in the energy sector, highlighting its potential to enhance agricultural diversification, especially in areas such as processing and irrigation.

Speaking at the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) 119th Annual Congress, President Hichilema urged farmers to form consortia to invest in energy, which would help them manage their agricultural operations efficiently while selling surplus power to ZESCO.

He also revealed his personal commitment, noting that he is investing in a 5-megawatt power project on his farm, which will use at least 800 kilowatts for farm operations, with the surplus fed into the national grid.

The President emphasized that such initiatives are critical for national resilience, especially as load shedding continues to hinder progress. He further instructed the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to grant presumptive approval for solar projects being implemented nationwide.

President Hichilema reassured farmers that the government is addressing key challenges, including land tenure security, and is elevating livestock theft to the status of an economic crime to reduce losses in the sector.

Additionally, he pledged that the government will implement positive discrimination in the procurement of local agricultural products, reinforcing support for the country’s farming community.