Itezhi Tezhi Member of Parliament, Twaambo Mutinta, has urged the Ministry of Agriculture to revisit its approach to the Smallholder Agricultural Financing (SAF) loan facility.
Mr. Mutinta has disclosed that the management of the 2024-25 SAF loans by the Ministry of Agriculture and the banks contradicts the aspirations of President Hichilema to advance the agricultural sector in Zambia.
Mr. Mutinta expressed concern that the current implementation of the SAF loan program is failing the very farmers it was designed to assist.
“The Ministry of Agriculture needs to go back to the drawing board to develop a more effective strategy that truly addresses the needs and challenges faced by smallholder farmers,” said Mr. Mutinta in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He further insisted that banks must also adopt a more truthful and transparent manner when dealing with farmers, ensuring they have access to the necessary information and support throughout the loan application process adding that out of the over 300 applicants of the SAF loans , less than 30 farmers received the loans in itezhi tezhi district.
By Elizabeth Mutale
