Government says it will increase the number of Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiaries to 1,000,000 vulnerable but viable farmers.
Agriculture and Livestock minister Wilbur Simusa says the move is aimed at continuing registering increased crop yields to ensure national and household food security.
Mr. Simusa has noted that government will to this vain procure 106 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer and 103 metric tonnes of compound D fertilizer to carter for the targeted 1,000,000 beneficiary vulnerable but viable farmers.
The minister said when he met agricultural officers drawn from all districts and provincial heads of government departments in the agriculture sector in southern province at the ZNFU conference room in Choma, today.
He says his ministry will ensure that fertilizer are distributed to farmers on across the country by August to enable t farmers to adequately prepare for the 2014/2015 farming season.
Mr. Simusa disclosed that government has given Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) to supply D compound fertilizer.
He said the quantity that has been given to NCZ to produce will continue being offloaded to the farmers as the company continues producing the commodity to expedite the distribution exercise.
‘’Government will not wait for the whole consignment to be produced by NCZ but as they continue having enough stocks truckers will be laden with fertilizer to be dispatched to farmers in all districts,’’ said Mr. Simusa.
Mr. Simusa directed all senior members of staff in the ministry in all the provinces to dispatch fertilizer to the farmers immediately it arrives in each district in the country.
Meanwhile, southern province agriculture members of staff have unanimously agreed to increase the production of maize to 750 metric tonnes during the 2014/2015 farming season.
Southern province acting provincial agricultural coordinator Dr. Max Choombe told Mr. Simusa that small scale farmers in the province were producing 1.9 metric tonnes per hector.
Dr. Choombe on behalf of all members of staff who supported his move pledged to work extra hard to increase the crop production per hector from the current 1.9 metric tonnes to 3 metric tonnes per hector if they are to meet the targeted production of 750 metric tonnes in the province.
This is what we want to see.good planning. Well done Mr simuusa
BA LT THOSE FIGURES ARE WRONG! EG, 103 METRIC TONNES IS SUPPOSED TO BE 103,000 IAM SURE
What will be the size of the pack?
Thts how the Govt shud be. Talk so tht we kno you r working. Not ndwiiiii and zeee. Well done Mr Simuusa. God loves Zambia and no Hunger this time around.
“Work” is never assessed by the amount of talking one does!