LUSAKA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Friday that new farming blocks consisting of one million hectares of land represents a unique opportunity to attract investment in the country's agriculture sector.
Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya said the idea behind the farming blocks was to create new agricultural towns in which agribusiness consisting of value addition, processing, packaging, exports and other logistics will emerge.
In remarks delivered during the 10th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Germany, the Zambian minister said the farming blocks will also lead to investment in infrastructure that support agriculture such as roads, new housing, schools, energy, hospitals, among others.
"This is the product we have come to sell here. And attending international conferences such as the GFFA provides us with an opportunity to tell the world that we are ready and open for business in the agricultural sector," she said, according to a statement released by the Zambian embassy in Germany.
According to her, the farming blocks have also presented another investment opportunity in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector as the country was still facing challenges in the application of ICTs in the sector.
The government, she said, has, among other things introduced the use of e-vouchers, a new electronic system that enable farmers access farming inputs.
The GFFA, which brings annually leaders from politics, business, science, civil society and academy to exchange knowledge and experiences related to the global agri-food industry, is organized by the Germany Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in collaboration with other stakeholders.
