Several farmers stranded after Omnia suspended FSP activities

Hundreds of farmers from various satellite depots around Mazabuka district are stranded in town following the sudden suspension of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) by Omnia Fertiliser Zambia Limited.

And the farmers have called on President Rupiah Banda to immediately intervene because the suspension has negative effects on the country’s food security.

The farmers complained to ZANIS in Mazabuka today that Omnia has refused to release fertiliser alleging that government has not paid the organisation funds for handling the FSP programme.

Spokesperson for the farmers, Brent Hamweete said the decision taken by Omnia is a threat to the agriculture sector especially that it has been done at a time when farmers are planting their crops.

Mr Hamweete also wondered how the government would address the global food shortages if farmers were not given inputs on time.

Mazabuka District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO), Hastins Nyambe confirmed
the development to ZANIS but refused to comment saying the matter was
beyond his capacity to handle.

And Magoye Member of Parliament, Benson Mweemba, who visited Omnia offices, demanded an honest explanation from Depot Manager, Peter Kalwani.

However, Mr. Kalwani only confirmed the closure of the depot and referred all other queries to the company director in Lusaka.

Mr Mweemba however warned Omnia staff to stop provoking farmers by creating unnecessary antagonism between farmers and government.

He accused the company of being provocative to farmers especially that they had to cover long distances to collect the inputs.

Mr Mweemba also urged government to investigate why Omnia was always allegedly frustrating the FSP facility by suspending the distribution exercise before farmers received the inputs.

He said the closure of the shed was suspicious because it is always done few days after the official flagging off the programme.

Mr Mweemba however said should the investigation prove that some government officials were responsible for the delay in remitting funds to the company, such should be disciplined without hesitation.

” This happened even during the last farming season where several farmers were stranded for almost a month. Why should we allow this to continue when farmers are paying for the commodity? Government should take necessary action on those frustrating the programme,” he said.

The areas that have been affected by the suspension of the programme Mainza, Mwanachingwala and Chivuna.

ZANIS/HC/KSH/ENDS