Ministry of Agriculture Agri-Business and Marketing Acting Director, Nicholas Mainza, has encouraged farmers to turn to commercial banks for support.
This came in response to an appeal from the National Union for Small-Scale Farmers in Zambia (NUSFAZ), which urged the government to increase SAFF loans to over K1 billion.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka, Mr. Mainza emphasized that commercial banks and not the government, are the primary institutions responsible for issuing loans to farmers.
“Commercial banks issue loans to farmers, and the government plays a supportive role by providing assurances when those loans are approved,” said Mr. Mainza.
Mr. Mainza encouraged NUSFAZ to focus their advocacy efforts on engaging with financial institutions to expand loan accessibility.
He noted that commercial banks have the resources and mechanisms to tailor financial solutions for the agriculture sector.
By Melissa Zaza
