Wednesday, July 31, 2024

PAOGZ President Joshua Banda Highlights Urgent Need for Farmers to Innovate Amid Drought Crisis

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Bishop Joshua Banda prays for the Chitimukulu

Pentecostal Assemblies of Zambia (PAOGZ) President, Bishop Joshua Banda, underscored the importance of understanding the current challenges and responding effectively to the severe droughts affecting the country’s farmers. Speaking at the annual agricultural conference, themed “Land, My Ancient Inheritance: Understanding the Times, Responding in Time,” Bishop Banda emphasized the necessity for farmers to embrace innovative practices to enhance productivity and sustainability.

The event, featuring exhibitions and demonstrations of various agricultural machines and value-added products, also included expert presentations and discussions on climate-smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, and value addition strategies. Researchers, farmers, and stakeholders contributed their insights, aiming to equip attendees with the knowledge needed to tackle the ongoing agricultural challenges.

During his apostolic visit to the northern district, Bishop Banda, along with his entourage, paid a courtesy visit to Chief Chitimukulu, Mwine Lubemba Kanyanta Manga Sosala, at his royal palace. The Presiding Bishop expressed his gratitude to Chief Chitimukulu and highlighted PAOGZ’s mission of community transformation in Bemba land, seeking the Chief’s support for spreading the Gospel. Bishop Banda took the opportunity to pray for Chief Chitimukulu, blessing him with God’s favor.

Chief Chitimukulu shared his personal testimony of transformation from Marxism and atheism to faith during his imprisonment before ascending to chieftaincy. He thanked Bishop Banda for the church’s efforts in advancing the Gospel in Bemba land and presiding over a large Sunday service in Malole. Apostle Chonya’s success in planting eight branch churches in Malole also impressed Bishop Banda, who encouraged the congregations and prayed for the land, anointing it with oil amidst praises and jubilant songs.

Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo, who virtually officiated the conference, urged small-scale farmers in Northern Province to adopt mechanized agriculture to increase production. He emphasized that mechanization and value addition are crucial for modernizing the agricultural sector, leading to improved productivity and higher farmer incomes.

Mr. Mtolo highlighted initiatives such as the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF), which enables farmers to acquire machinery, as part of efforts to boost productivity. He also encouraged farmers to adopt innovation and technology to remain competitive and assured them that the Zambia Meteorological Department predicts average to above-average rainfall for the upcoming farming season.

The conference, organized by the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church in Kasama, focused on promoting mechanization and value addition in agriculture to address the drought crisis and modernize the sector, aiming to improve the livelihoods of farmers across the region.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Chitimukulu turned into a fuuul. It was supposed to be him blessing that thief of a pastor.
    Ask him where he took the money we fundraised for a National House Of Prayer to be built with PF of ECL.
    That Joshua guy and ECL stole donations we gave them. Sinners.

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    • surely….how can the paramount chief submit to a fake pastor. Kana besa twapapata do not bring the chiefdom to this low. becareful with these fake men of gold. they have no good intentions but to reap where they did not plant,

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    • The King is also a spiritual leader. We have disarmed him by adopting western religions.

  2. Last year when we experienced the first rains in November, the Meteological Department cautioned that it didn’t signal the beginning of the rainy season and advised farmers not to plant. Those that didn’t heed that advice and planted have had a good yield. Those that waited as advised have experienced poor yields and in some cases total crop failure. There has been no apology for misleading people. In future it’ll be difficult for people to follow expert advice

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    • I planted at the time, it getminated and I harvested. Many were passing discouraging comments but I have the last laugh.

  3. What happened to the prayers for rains? You misled people to pray. After prayers the rains did not come. You fake bishops and apostles mukayapya.You mislead people for personal gains

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  4. The modernized farming has been somewhat a curse. When were cultivating our traditional cassava I never heard of famine. Then they gave us this manufactured seed which like broiler chicken wants to be nursed like a new born baby.

  5. Twabwelako fye minwe nkutu… It’s all talk-talk-talk and talk. When the reckoning comes we are arrested for innovating, our funding confiscated and cloaked in proceeds of crime. I am NOT bringing my innovations. So cabe we will be benefitting where we didn’t even want to because at home we are not welcomed.

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    • Did you hear what Dante Sondashi said? He urged government to withdraw passports for those who criticize government when they are abroad.

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    • @Deja vu, it’s fine. They will also be contradicting their dual nationality clause. In that case the decision will be automatic.

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