|
Friday, 16 June 2006 |
|
This
sector is considered to be the potentially sustainable alternative
to copper mining as a foreign exchange earner. The agricultural
resources in the country offer the unrealised potential that
needs to be fully exploited. Strides have been made in this
sector, which holds the biggest hope for export.
The
abundance of quality arable land, easily accessible water
and the ideal climate and range of environment provide the
potential for the growing and exporting of agricultural and
horticultural produce.
The
sector is a vital source of employment and contributes a substantial
amount to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Principal crops
include maize, millet, sorghum, beans and cassava, wheat,
sugar cane, sunflower seed, groundnuts, rice, cotton, tobacco,
and horticultural produce. Fishing is also carried out in
various parts of the country and provides considerable income
for the farmer, while cattle rearing and other small livestock
also plays an important role in the country's food basket.
The
current list of produce gives some idea of the potential in
this sector: | Aubergines | Groundnuts | Poultry | | Baby
corn | Honey | Beeswax | | Rice | Beef | Maize | | Sheep | Cashew
nuts | Mange-tout | | Sorghum | Chillies | Melons | | Soya
beans | Coffee | Milk | | Sugar
cane | Cotton | Millet
| | Sunflower | Cowhides | Okra | | Sweet
corn | Cow
peas | Palm
nuts | | Tea | Eggs | Passion
fruit | | Tobacco | Garden | Peas |
|
Agriculture
