Kankoyo Member of Parliament (MP) Brian Mushimba has injected over K600,000 into an empowerment project for cooperatives undertaking agriculture and aquaculture projects in his constituency.Mr Mushimba last week disbursed K130, 000 to 64 cooperatives to buy farm inputs for this year’s farming season and inspected the K476,000 farming project comprising 24 fish ponds.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr Mushimba said the money is meant to enhance the capacity of small-scale farmers to grow more food.
He said the move will help improve food security at household level. Mr Mushimba pledged to source for more money to help 48 other cooperatives that have not benefitted from the empowerment fund.

“I will continue to invest in ventures aimed at improving the lives of people in this constituency. As we wait for Government to implement the bigger projects, we will contribute something in our small way,” he said. Mr Mushimba said for development to be realised, it requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

He said his office will continue investing in ventures such as provision of scholarships to vulnerable pupils, empowerment funds for market traders and improvement of market infrastructure using the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
Mr Mushimba also urged youths interested in participating in the roadworks to register through the constituency office or the contractor for consideration.

The parliamentarian said he was happy that the Patriotic Front (PF) administration is fulfilling its campaign promises as can be seen by the commencement of roadworks in the area. On the fish farming project, Mr Mushimba said it is aimed at creating employment for people and helping Mufulira to produce enough tilapia fish for consumption and sell to other districts.

The project will see the building of 24 fish ponds managed by the community in Luansobe and Kangwa Nsuluka wards in the constituency.
An addition, 24 additional fish ponds are expected to be built in the near future. “We will create integrated farming where we will have a piggery, whose waste will feed into the fish ponds and the waste from the fish ponds will feed into the gardens,” he said.

Mr Mushimba said the fish farming project was also a response to President Edgar Lungu’s call on Zambians to start keeping fish instead of relying on imports. He said a 30, 000 litres capacity solar water pump will be installed at the site. Mr Mushimba said officers from the department of fisheries in Mufulira have been engaged to help the community to run successful fish projects.

And Mufulira Mayor, Gift Mushinge applauded Mr Mushimba’s gesture and urged other MPs to emulate him. Mr Mushinge said the project was sustainable in nature and can help eliminate poverty among people in Kankoyo.

And Kangwa Nsuluka ward councillor, Joseph Chasaya said the project will help improve the nutrition status of people in the community, in addition to helping them raise money to send their children to school.