Contract Signing Ceremony of Exchange of Notes for Japan’s Grant Aid for Development of Rice Seed Production and Construction of Training Facilities
2022/11/30
On 8th November 2022, H.E Mr. MIZUUCHI Ryuta, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, and Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, signed and exchanged notes for the Grant Aid for “The Project for Development of Rice Seed Production Field and Training Facilities” at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Lusaka. This grant amounts to 1.59 billion Japanese Yen (approx. 11 million US Dollars) over the next three years.
The project will be implemented at the Mount Makulu Research Station in Chilanga District, Lusaka Province and the Mansa Research Station in Luapula Province under the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) with improved rice seed, enhanced productivity and increased rice production in Zambia. This will be achieved through construction of facilities and procurement of equipment for dissemination of rice cultivation technology, and paddy fields and irrigation facilities for production of quality seeds, which will promote the diversification, and higher value addition of crop production and help ensure that agriculture serves as a pillar of economic growth.
The Ambassador reiterated in his statement that by the end of the implementation of this project, we will see a drastic improvement in the quality of rice produced in this country and that Zambians through this achievement, -farmers and consumers alike- will enjoy the better quality of life.
The project will be implemented at the Mount Makulu Research Station in Chilanga District, Lusaka Province and the Mansa Research Station in Luapula Province under the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) with improved rice seed, enhanced productivity and increased rice production in Zambia. This will be achieved through construction of facilities and procurement of equipment for dissemination of rice cultivation technology, and paddy fields and irrigation facilities for production of quality seeds, which will promote the diversification, and higher value addition of crop production and help ensure that agriculture serves as a pillar of economic growth.
The Ambassador reiterated in his statement that by the end of the implementation of this project, we will see a drastic improvement in the quality of rice produced in this country and that Zambians through this achievement, -farmers and consumers alike- will enjoy the better quality of life.