The Civil Society Organization, Go Back to the Land Zambia says the debate on the 6 million hectors of Land allocation and U$72 billion investment pledge by a single Vietnamese investor in agriculture sector, should be an eye opener to Zambians to acquire land for investment in agriculture sector.
Organization Executive Director Cyprian Phiri says the government must also use the proposal from a single foreign investor to acquire 6 million hectors of Land in Muchinga, Northern and Luapula Province’s should be a point of reflection to government.
Mr. Phiri is urging the Zambia Development Agency -ZDA to provide favourable incentives to local investors in agriculture, the sector he says has the potential for wealth and Job creation for the youth.
He says the Small Scale farmers contribute massively in developing rural areas despite challenges of capital and climate change among others hence the need to prioritize them in the provision of conditions that support their growth.
Viet-Zam a Vietnamese Diversified Development Company Limited announced a USD 72 Billion investment and demanded for a 6 Million Hectares of Land in Muchinga, Luapula and Northern Provinces where it planned to set up a rice plantation and mineral exploration.
The proposal has however not been received by various stakeholders in the country with the latest being the Luapula Council Chiefs which has also dispelled and refuted media and public claims that the royal highnesses in the province have sold or allocated 6 million hectares of land for the rice investment project by the Vietnamese investor.