UTM Party aspirant proposes Sugar Act to protect farmers
UTM Party Nkhotakota North East parliamentary candidate Andrew Katende has proposed the enactment of a Sugar Act to protect sugarcane farmers from exploitation.
The aspirant made the proposal on Saturday during a public debate organised by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust in the constituency.
During the debate, three of the area’s seven candidates turned up. The other two were independents Franklyn Yonamu and Francis Kapanda.
“I will ensure that government has good price and production regulatory frameworks so that farmers can benefit,” said Katende
According to the Nkhotakota socio-economic profile, the sector employs about 70 percent of the district’s workforce and contributes over 80 percent of its annual earnings.
Kapanda said he will encourage farmers to increase rice production which he said is fetching better prices than sugar.
Yonamu also outlined his plans to transform the agriculture sector by, among other things, increasing access to farm inputs as well as re-introducing farmer’s clubs.
