Government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, has handed over a tractor and other agricultural equipment worth over one million Kwacha to Mufumbwe Food Security Pack (FSP) beneficiaries, procured from beneficiary repayments.
Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Doreen Mwamba, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to improving rural livelihoods through enhanced agricultural mechanisation and support.
Speaking in a speech read on her behalf by Mufumbwe District Acting District Commissioner, Aggripa Chitambala, during the handover ceremony, Ms Mwamba said the initiative is aimed at empowering vulnerable but viable small-scale farmers across ten wards.
The equipment handed over includes a four-wheeled tractor and a walking tractor, both fully equipped with essential accessories, procured at a total cost of K1,008,890.
The Minister said the mechanisation drive will reduce labour burdens and improve productivity among beneficiaries.
She noted that the FSP Programme remains a key social protection intervention, alongside others such as the Social Cash Transfer and additional livelihood support programmes.
In North-Western Province alone, the programme has supported over 16,000 households in the 2025/2026 farming season, with the number expected to rise to more than 24,000 in the 2026/2027 season.
Ms Mwamba said the programme, which includes rain-fed, wetland, and livestock components, is designed to enhance food security, improve household incomes, and strengthen resilience against climate shocks such as drought.
The Minister stressed that the FSP is a conditional grant, not a handout, and commended beneficiaries in Mufumbwe for adhering to repayment obligations, which made it possible to procure the equipment using recovered funds.
Meanwhile, Director of Community Development, Chagano Ngoi, urged beneficiaries to continue contributing the 10 percent payback from their produce to sustain the programme.
He further commended the collective efforts of beneficiaries, Ministry staff, and other stakeholders for their dedication to ensuring the success of the programme in advancing household food and nutrition security.
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