Minister of Agriculture Emmanuel Chenda says the distribution of fertiliser for the 2010-2011 farming season, which was temporarily suspended has resumed countrywide.
Mr. Chenda says the distribution of fertiliser and seed resumed on Thursday last week after government had paid a substantial amount to suppliers.
The Minister told ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka on Sunday that government is yet to pay the remaining forty- four million United States dollars.
He has asked depot supervisors countrywide to extend operating hours to weekends to catch up with the lost time.
Mr. Chenda has also clarified that farmers will still get four bags and ten Kilogramme of seed each and that those who are getting more or less than that are doing it dubiously.
Suppliers had suspended the distribution of farming inputs under the government farmer input support programme for the 2010-2011 farming season for two weeks.
The Patriotic Front government, which has only been in office for about two months, has had to hold meetings with suppliers and financial institutions the whole of last week to ensure that the distribution resumed.
ZNBC
If it is possible, please, farmers just keep it for next season instead of wasting it on plants on which it is too late. Who knows next year they may even stop distributing fertiliser all together.
Mutant children will have to evolve to feed on tribe not maize in future.
This is the beginning of real UNIP days no sane farmer will plant this time it is simply too late bafikamba.Your priorities are indeed wrong the first two months you have spent collosal sums of money renovating state house with dubiously awarded contracts to Appolo when you were suppossed to be distributing fertlizer to the farmers .I know the proirity will go to NP and so called Muchinga province.
WHATS IS THE USE OF FERTILISER THIS TIME????
IT IS TOO LATE
Wonder if Chenda understands farming.
Ba fee colour ba PF where is my 15 bags of fertiliser your chi president promised me during campaigns?
Wel ,not too very late tho late.
Bravo to goververnment for the resumption of fertiliser distribution.Actually it is still possible to plant maize seed now provided the right seed type is planted.one can plant early,medium or late maturing varieties dependent on region and circumstances.Please let’s support government where it has done well and criticise were it is due.After government does not produce ferts.
the rains has just stated….i have jst seen people planting Maize coz the rains delayed coming..and there is no rain in EasternP..broggers what are whinning about
These Pfools think they are clever . . . . money for inputs was paid to Alex chikwanda’s mAppollo..