LAWRENCE KABUTU, NAIS, 23rd SEPTEMBER 2024
GWEMBE – Agriculture Permanent Secretary John MULONGOTI says government has made a decision that beneficiary farmers during the 2024/2025 Farmer Input Support Programme should sell atleast 10 by 50 kilogramme bags of white maize to the Food Reserve Agency. Mr. MULONGOTI says the decision was made so that farmers can quickly recover from drought and ensure that the country is food secure.
The Permanent secretary was speaking during the launch of Southern Province Farmer Input Support Programme for 2024/2025 season in Gwembe. Mr. MULONGOTI noted that the farmer will supply the surplus of maize grain to the Food Reserve Agency after securing grain for household food security. And Gwembe District Commissioner Killion CHIKANDULA says farmers in the district have welcomed the E-Voucher modality as it gives them the opportunity to choose inputs they want.
One of the beneficiary farmers Hilder KAYOMBO praised government for distributing the inputs early. Ms. KAYOMBO observed that the early delivery of inputs will ensure household food security as farmers will be able to plant early. Several farmers during the launch expressed gratitude for early delivery of agricultural inputs under the FISP prorgamme during the 2024/2025 farming season.
Immediately after the launch of the FISP Programme farmers started collecting their inputs after redeeming their codes with agro dealers. In a related development government has increased the Agricultural Credit Window of the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility in Zambia from 50,000 to K500,000. Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services John MULONGOTI says the Programme that supported over 10,000 farmers last year will continue this season as one of the flag ship programmes of government.
Mr. MULONGOTI was speaking to farmers in Gwembe District when he flagged off the Farmer Input Support Programme for Southern Programme for 2024/2025 farming season. The Permanent Secretary says the loan portfolio that only covered fertilizer and seed last year will this season cover other loan portfolios to include Irrigation and farm mechanisation. Mr. MULONGOTI named other loan portfolios as Aquaculture, Livestock, and seed and fertilizer.
And fertilizer and seed contracted companies for the 2024/2025 FISP programme are already on the ground in Southern Province supplying the commodity to farmers who have paid their contributions of K400, 000 towards the programme. Choma Omnia Stock Controller Wabei MATE says his company has 50 metric tonnes of Urea, 50 metric tonnes of Compund D, and 30 metric tonnes of a variety of Maize Seed. Ms. MATE said Omnia Choma has also several herbicides and very much read for the 2024/2025 farming season under the E- Voucher programme.
Meanwhile, Sinazongwe Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) Stock Controller Albert NGO says his company was allocated to supply 525 metric tonnes of Compound D under the Direct Input Supply Modality. Mr. NGO says from the 525 metric tonnes allocated to the NCZ only 35 metric tonnes is remaining to complete the allocation for Sinazongwe district.
And Alice KAPOKOLA speaking on behalf of other Farmers says farmers are alerted with the early distribution of inputs. Ms. KAPOKOLA thanked government for delivering the commodity early in the district in readiness for the farming season. E
NDS/LK/NAIS
