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Cynhia Bowa, Charge’ d’Affaires at the Zambian Embassy in Tokyo, has underscored the importance of investing in agriculture, particularly in rice farming, to improve food security in Zambia.
Speaking at the bid opening ceremony for a JICA grant-funded project, Bowa emphasized that the over US$7 million initiative aligned with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) and aims to enhance food security and create employment through value addition.
The project, focused on developing rice seed production fields and training facilities at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) Mansa Research Station, is expected to benefit 1,800 people within the first three years, boosting rural employment and aiding poverty reduction.
Bowa highlighted that it would also contribute to infrastructure development, climate resilience, and advanced research in rice production.
Taku Mori, President of NTC International Company Limited, expressed gratitude to the bid participants and addressed issues from the previous bid attempt in December 2023.
Mori explained that a review led to adjustments in the project, including splitting the bidding into construction and equipment procurement contracts to facilitate smoother implementation.
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