The Zambian government assured livestock and fish farmers that imports will be done in a manner which uplifted the local production. “Though government will continue to allow the importation of livestock and fish, we want to assure farmers that it will be done in a way which doesn’t let local production suffer,” Zambian livestock and fisheries minister Michael Katambo said.

The minister’s comments came after a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on fruit and vegetables, following a turn-around by government on an earlier decision to ban it. Katambo said his ministry put guidelines in place to create a balance between local production and imported livestock and fish.

“This entails transparency and information sharing from all key players, which include farmers, traders and chain store operators,” he said. Zambia’s fish deficit stands at 55 000 tons while beef imports are at about 20 000 tons.

Katambo said government will also improve strategies and programmes to increase local production to mitigate the shortfalls the country still face.

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