AGRIC STAFF URGED TO BE FRONTLINE DEFENDERS OF FOOD SECURITY
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- Ceasar Mbewe
- 16 Aug, 2025
AGRIC STAFF URGED TO BE FRONTLINE DEFENDERS OF FOOD SECURITY
By CEASAR MBEWE
AGRICULTURE field staff in Samfya district in Luapula province have been urged to intensify their efforts in mitigating the Fall Armyworm (FAW).
Speaking during a two day Fall Armyworm training for field officers, Deputy Council Secretary, Paul Kabwebwe, emphasized that the training is not just about sharing knowledge but a national call to defend food security through informed extension services.
“Fall Armyworm continues to threaten our maize production and, by extension, our food security. But the solution is not just chemicals - it is knowledge, coordination, and timely action,” Mr Kabwebwe stated.
He said government has made a strong call for intensified frontline action in combating the destructive pest.
He noted that the inclusion of information dissemination in the programme was a step in the right direction, stressing that: “A well-informed farmer is an empowered farmer.”
Mr Kabwebwe further reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting all initiatives that protect the livelihoods of farmers.
The two day programme equipped staff with practical skills in FAW scouting, early detection, integrated pest management, and effective communication strategies to support smallholder farmers in the field.
And Samfya Acting District Agricultural Coordinator Lameck Zimba, urged participants to treat the training with utmost seriousness, describing them as “foot soldiers for government in the battle to protect farmers from the pest.”
While, Crop Husbandry Officer Chibwe Chomfwe, who is also lead trainer, reminded officers that the government invests heavily in such programmes to ensure farmers are supported through the extension system.
“You must take this knowledge and put it into practice. That is the only way to justify the resources being invested in you,” Mr Chomfwe said.
The training drew participants across the district, including the District Agricultural Coordinator, Senior Agricultural Officer, District Agriculture Officers, staff from the Department of Agriculture, facilitators, and the Manager of the Farmer Training Centre. -NAIS
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