• Agriculture has the potential to boost economic activities.
• Early input delivery not to stop at half way.
• A pathway for job creation among small scale farmers.

Zambia Micro and Small Traders Foundation Cooperative says agriculture is key for job creation and community productivity.
Cooperative National Executive Officer Teddy Sinkala told Money FM News in an interview that if well harnessed, Agriculture has the potential to boost most of the economic activities in different sectors, hence the early distribution of farming inputs should not stop at half way.
“First and foremost, I would like to say that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture have done a tremendous job and it should be a continuous program where they are giving the early inputs to small scale farmers. Agriculture is key to job creation and boosting the economy because our economy in Zambia as we go towards the farming season is anchored on productivity in the agriculture sector,” he said.
Mr. Sinkala emphasized the importance of boosting cooperatives as they are pathways for job creation among small scale farmers that are mainly contributing to national growth and development.
“Even cooperatives in other countries for example in Tanzania, they have been boosted because as the government is doing that, so many small scale farmers will be able to be registered as cooperatives and in that they will also form and create employment.”
Mr Sinkala stated, “Cooperative is an entity, a pathway for job creation amongst small scale farmers and needs adequate attention.”
Mr Sinkala stated that cooperatives can only work effectively if the Ministry of Labour and Social Security launches the National Productivity Policy that will enhance coverage to the informal sector.