120 Tonnes of Soya Open Doors to China

Mr Li said the shipment provided practical experience in meeting quality standards, handling export procedures and managing transportation requirements for the Chinese market.

He said access to reliable export markets could create new opportunities for Zambian farmers by linking agricultural production to international demand.

Mr Li said CAMCO remained committed to supporting Zambia’s agricultural development through mechanisation, technical training and improved access to agricultural equipment and services.

He said the company would continue working with relevant government institutions and agricultural stakeholders to strengthen farming systems and support increased production.

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences Chairman Ma Jingchun said cooperation between Zambia and China was important in building the technical skills needed to modernise Zambia’s agricultural sector.

Mr Ma said agricultural mechanisation required more than the supply of machinery, as farmers also needed trained operators, qualified mechanics, maintenance services and reliable access to spare parts.

He said the soybean shipment demonstrated the opportunities that could emerge when agricultural production was connected to international markets.

Mr Ma said the China-Aid Overseas Training Course on Agricultural Mechanization for Zambia was intended to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills that could be applied in their workplaces and communities.

He said stronger technical capacity would help improve agricultural productivity and ensure that machinery was properly operated and maintained.

Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Administration Dr Chizumba Shepande said the Government’s Grow Zambia programme had set ambitious agricultural production targets to be achieved by 2031.

Dr Shepande said the targets included producing 10 million tonnes of maize, three million tonnes of soybeans, one million tonnes of wheat and one million tonnes of sugar annually.

He said the Government also intended to expand irrigation to 500,000 hectares to reduce dependence on rainfall and support year-round agricultural production.

Dr Shepande said achieving the targets would require increased mechanisation, improved farming skills, research, extension services and investment in value addition.

He said initiatives such as Mechanize 360 were intended to strengthen access to agricultural machinery and support farmers in improving production.

Dr Shepande said the China-Aid Overseas Training Course on Agricultural Mechanization for Zambia was part of efforts to develop the skills required to support the country’s agricultural transformation.

He said the knowledge acquired by the trainees should contribute to practical improvements in farming, fisheries and livestock production.

Mr Li said CAMCO was a government-recognised partner in the National Agricultural Mechanisation Strategy and would continue expanding its machinery service network.

He said the company was working to strengthen the availability of spare parts, after-sales support and technical services while training agricultural machinery operators and mechanics.

Mr Li thanked the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock for supporting agricultural cooperation and the training programme.

Meanwhile, Bostone Michelo, a trainee representing the graduating class from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said the four-week course had strengthened participants’ understanding of modern agricultural technology.

Speaking on behalf of the 40 trainees, Mr Michelo said mechanisation was not simply about having machines but also required appropriate technologies, skilled operators, preventive maintenance and reliable support systems.

He said these elements were important in addressing labour shortages, reducing post-harvest losses, improving irrigation efficiency and supporting agro-processing.

Mr Michelo thanked the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences, the lecturers, CAMCO College and the support staff for their contribution to the training.

He said the graduates had a responsibility to apply the knowledge they had acquired and turn it into practical improvements for farmers and their institutions.

Mr Michelo said trainees working in livestock and fisheries should promote mechanised fodder production, feed processing, manure-to-biogas technologies and the integration of crop and livestock production.

He said those working in crop production should encourage timely land preparation, conservation tillage, efficient water use and improved post-harvest handling.

Mr Michelo said the graduates would also share their knowledge with colleagues and support cooperatives in adopting technologies suited to their needs.

He said the success of the training would ultimately be measured by improvements achieved in the field and the benefits delivered to farmers.

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