Zambia’s success will be Africa’s success

We are very grateful for the rains we’ve received over most parts of the country the past few weeks. The rains bring life with it and revitalises the soil, and often the farmers as well.

The words of Mr HE Hakainde Hichilema in the Foresight Africa 2022 report (https://www.brookings.edu/research/foresight-africa-2022/) gave me hope; hope not only for the country, but for the African continent.

According to Mr Hakainde, Zambia’s priority is simple: “We must find a way to include the jobless youth in our economy. To do that, we need to build our economy by encouraging new investment and giving our young people the skills, they need to participate fully in the economy. We shall pay special attention to lowering the fiscal deficit, reducing public debt, and restoring social and market confidence. We shall also promote national unity and good governance by strictly adhering to the rule of the law and democratic accountability.”

His administration’s focus over the next five years will be on restoring macro-economic stability and promoting the growth of the economy.

There are many expectations of what the agriculture sector should contribute to food security, job creation, and rural development amid the challenges of uncertainty around transformation, the social upliftment of worker communities, and security risks.

Most important, however, is keeping up sustainable and productive farming to ensure food security, not only in Africa, but beyond our borders.

I believe that 2022 will be a year full of opportunities. To be successful in agriculture, one should be realistic about the volatility of the sector, as well as other threats in the natural and market environments. One should also avoid excessive risks, yet take full advantage of opportunities.

In this issue, we take a look at a brand-new series on beekeeping, the advantages that Rumax hammermills offer to dairy farmers, and how Reinke offers irrigation solutions for Africa.

We are also very excited with the launch of a brand-new website, ProAgri Media. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information.

Remember that you can also receive our publications in digital format. WhatsApp your name, surname, country, main agricultural activity, and e-mail address to +27 (0) 84-041-1722 to receive the magazine directly on your phone.

Farm smartly!

bianca@proagri.co.za