African Development Bank (AfDB) executive director Patrick Zampita has commended President Edgar Lungu for his focused leadership and commitment to improving the agriculture sector in Zambia.

And Zampita says Africa has potential to provide food for the whole world adding that Zambia with its vast arable land and focused leadership can generate sufficient farm produce.

Meanwhile, Yeta ward Chairperson Wainyae Inyambo has thanked government and the world bank for coming up with the Sefula Fiber Community Project saying the initiative had changed people’s lives in the community.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Development Panning Public Relations Unit, Monday, Zampita was speaking in Mongu where he and the Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme were inspecting developmental projects that AfDB and government were jointly financing in Western Province.

The projects included; Transforming Rural Livelihoods in the region, which focused on provision of clean water and sanitation, and the Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP).

Zampita asked Chiteme to convey AfDB’s gratitude to President Lungu on his achievements in the agriculture sector.

“Through you Honourable Minister, let me thank the government authorities including the President of Zambia for the enthusiasm he is putting to develop the agriculture sector. Agriculture is one of the pillars o the economy,” he said.

Zampita said Africa had potential to provide food for the whole world, adding that the Cashew nut project would transform and empower communities.

Zampita further said agriculture needed to be transformed into business, and not just to produce food for home consumption.

At the World Bank-funded and Zambian Government’s Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR)-managed Sefula Fiber Project, Chiteme expressed happiness at the community’s commitment to empower themselves through production of fiber crafts, which were sold on local and international markets.

The project generated about K70, 000 per month for the members, the ministry reported.

And speaking on behalf of the community, Inyambo thanked government and the world bank for coming up with the fiber project.

“As a community we want to thank our President Mr Edgar Lungu and the World Bank. This project has changed our lives here in Sefula. Before this project was launched our youths were abusing alcohol but now our young people are actively engaged in this project,” said Inyambo.

The ministry reports that the Sefula Fiber Community Project had the highest absorption rate and more funding had since been sourced to reinvest in the project.