LAWRENCE KABUTU, 20TH AUGUST 2024, NAIS
SINAZONGWE – The first consignment of 4,800 by 50 kilogramme bags of Urea fertilizer for 2024/2025 farming season supplied by Alpha Commodity has been received in Sinazongwe district.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner NCHIMUNYA SIAKOLE expressed happiness with government’s quick delivery of inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Mr. SIAKOLE was speaking in Buleya Malima Agricultural Camp in Sinazongwe when Agriculture Minister REUBEN M’TOLO visited the area.
He however, requested the Minister to consider increasing the number of beneficiary farmers in Sinazongwe as only 3,500 farmers benefit from the programme out of the 23,302 farmers registered in the district.
And Minister of Agriculture REUBEN M’TOLO says government will this season carter for 1,024,434 farmers to benefit from the FISP.
Mr. M’TOLO said the pack will comprise 6 by 50 kilogramme bags of fertilizer, 20 kilogramme bag of Maize Seed and any other crop from Sunflower, Sorghum, and groundnuts among others from the 8 selected crops.
The Minister further outlined various loans with low interest rates that farmers can access to increase productivity and production and their livelihoods.
Mr. M’TOLO named the loan categories as Fertilizer and Seed loan amounting 500,000 and the Irrigation loan to cover borehole drilling, solar panels provision, tank stand, and irrigation pipes among others.
He observed that other low interest rate loans farmers should take advantage of are Mechanisation loan which includes tractor, hand held tractor, and various agricultural implements all amounting to K500,000.
Mr. M’TOLO stated that a farmer can opt to pick a small tractor under mechanisation loan or go for a hand held tractor with other agricultural implements.
He named the other loans as aquaculture for fish and livestock loan for chickens and other livestock.
Meanwhile Sinazongwe Council Chairperson CLIF SIACHIBWEKA says the district if well harnessed is a high productive area capable of feeding the entire Southern Province.
Mr. SIACHIBWEKA applauded government for placing agriculture at the centre stage to ensuring high productivity and production to a bit hunger.
ENDS/LK/NAIS
