The Zambia National Farmers Union is deeply concerned that basal and top dressing fertilizer under the farmer input support programme have not yet reached some of the major farming areas.
ZNFU President Evelyn Nguleka said the Union has received reports from stressed farmers in various parts of the country such as Copperbelt, Central, Eastern and Southern provinces indicating that D-Compound fertilizer and Urea have not yet been distributed and in some instances Urea Fertilizer is not available.
Dr. Nguleka said the Union is deeply concerned by these developments because FISP is the main government programme that small scale farmers, who are the main producers of maize, depend upon.
She said it is worrying that the events of the 2012/2013 farming season are re-occurring despite Government assurance through Agriculture Minister Bob Sichinga that inputs would be delivered in a timely manner.
And Dr. Nguleka has revealed that investigations conducted by the union have revealed that the D-Compound procured for some areas was less than the expected amounts resulting in shortages while the Urea Fertilizer procurement has taken numerous twists and turns.
[pullquote]..the Ministry of Finance should move at God’s speed to find the money and pay for the necessary bills now because losing the crop has even greater cost implications..[/pullquote]
In a statement issued, Dr. Nguleka has since called on Government to address all the delaying factors with the urgency it deserves to avert a food calamity emerging in the nation.
Dr. Nguleka reminded government that the haphazard distribution of inputs that the country is experiencing if not properly handled could turn out to be a national financial burden which will jeopardize and threaten the entire national food security situation.
“Therefore, our advice is that if it means paying the input suppliers or transporters now, the Ministry of Finance should move at God’s speed to find the money and pay for the necessary bills now because losing the crop has even greater cost implications as Government will have no choice but to source maize regardless of the price elsewhere to avert the food crisis, God forbid, should the country’s maize crop production slump, ” concluded the statement
Its the same thing every year….can we not do some-things with military precision!!
Congrats Dr. Glad to know that you are now the President of ZNFU. I will visit you soon.
Well said.
No we cannot! Our hands are tied by CHUMBU MUNSHOLOLWA.
You do something. After all you the MASSES are free, or are you?
There’s no planning in govt! everything is done on impulse!
They are right now collecting Dcompound from NCZ,i wonder where they are taking it to this late.Bob is a liar bigtime.
.. People should start eating fresh maize by next month. what is this man talking about. If he know farming, fertiser could be ready to nearest depots by sept-October. In some farming areas roads are impassable deep in rain season. An example of this is my home village chaanga and the nearby areas 🙁
How pathetic! I believe that those who voted for PF had not the slightest inkling that this would be the party’s performance if voted into power. Otherwise, it was a wasted vote through and through.
How I wish I could meet and look into Mr.Know it all Bob Analyst Sichinga.Always on radio 2.5 years ago talking …..