AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS

Owing to the fact that adequate nutrition completes the idea of personal well-being, the WJ Mudolo Foundation has formulated thorough Agriculture and Food Security Programs that have the dual effect of improving income and living standards of the farmers as well as sustaining a nourishing diet for and nutritional intake of the African people. To facilitate farmers easy access to markets and for them to receive the deserved income from their produce, the Foundation seeks to set-up facilities assisting them in financial and on-ground matters. The ultimate challenge faced by progressive African countries is to secure food supply for its ever-increasing populace as well as to provide for the global demand of its produce. The WJ Mudolo Foundation, thus, has a wide gap to fill with reforms within the agricultural sector, to place agricultural produces on an ever-upward facing trajectory and help create employment opportunities in and around rural districts.

AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY: PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

Our strategic model operates in light of our ideology as per the following guidelines:

• Treating the agricultural and husbandry profession as a well-organized business concern lies at heart of our agricultural schemes' philosophy, while encouraging young graduates to take up farming as occupation tends to raise this occupation's standing and acceptance.
  
• Promotion of mechanized agriculture and incorporation of technology in farming helps further the vision of increased agricultural produce. The Foundation pays particular attention towards small-scale farming units where establishment of farming clubs and communities may be undertaken to boost Africa's total produce.
  
• Protection of Africa's interests pertaining to its primary sector surrounding demands from and negotiations with the global markets for processed agricultural products.
  
• Promotion of processed foods made from agricultural produce and value-added goods in order to hike profitability for farmers and create a vast array of employment opportunities sideways.
  
• Introduction of sustainable agricultural structures carefully determined at optimum levels, influenced by social and economic constraints, including the use of labor, as well as environmental concerns, limiting carbon emissions and promoting agro-ecology.

OUR FOCAL AREAS IN AGRICULTURE

• Sustainable Growth in Agricultural Production: Facilitation of access to farming inputs and resources, including working capital for farms through well-planned subsidization schemes, providing hassle-free access to resources for women and youth, encouraging collective farming in groups, and inspiring the acceptance of innovative procedures. Assistance is provided on the basis of priority to families pooling lands in portions of 3 acres and more each, utilizing resources ideally.
  
• Removing hurdles to improve market performance: Introducing trouble-free transportation systems for agricultural produce and keeping farmers up-to-date with all useful market details and trends. Providing global market exposure to Africa's agricultural industry considering the same to be an "infant industry". Effectively represent the African primary sector before the international trading space to provide convenient access for countries while keeping the eminent African interests in due regard. Turning the African food security strategy into food sovereignty and regional preference strategy. Consequential benefits of adopting such a strategy includes positive amendments and flexibility in tariff policy, dedicating research facilities to improve domestic produce, welcomed laws on the application of genetic variations in agriculture, and most importantly, protection of farmers' interests.
  
• Introducing investments in the primary sector encompasses advanced income prediction strategies, and thus expedient mitigation of risks cautiously, along with easy availability of agricultural financial services. To reap such benefits, investment from the public sector remains essential, for which, the Foundation seeks to persuade the respective governments for augmentation of funds invested in the communities through our programs.
  
• Ensuring access to ample and nutritious diet available to food-producers will raise their standards of living, which will further result in a better health - better production spiral and promote transformation of communities.
  
• Environmental conservation rests as the paramount consideration while securing national, regional and global interests. Such conservation projects shall contain reforms for land holding systems and thorough assessment of consumption of natural resources for maximum utility.

Willah J Mudolo NETP   NET Party Zambia