October 15 2017, the date the Ministry of Agriculture said the 2017/2018 farming inputs’ distribution would be flagged off, has come and gone without any sign of the program being flagged off.
According to farmers news distributed by the Zambia Union of Farmers, with baited breath, farmers are now waiting for the Ministry to flag off the inputs under the E-Voucher, which this season goes 100%.
Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya said on October 6, 2017 that government would start the distribution of farming inputs by October 15, 2017 in order for farmers to prepare adequately for the 2017/2018 farming season.
Ms. Siliya is quoted saying government had put in place mechanisms to ensure that the challenges faced last year when the E-Voucher was being test-run, would be addressed.
She said K200 billion has been set aside for this exercise, saying the E Voucher programme has been operationalised to ensure timely and efficient distribution of inputs to farmers.
On April 13, 2017, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa said during his visit to Northern Province that farming inputs under the E-Voucher would start in June 2017 and the activation of E-Voucher cards would be done promptly.
Meanwhile, the ministry of agriculture in Luanshya district on the Copperbelt has started receiving cash deposits from farmers as contributions for E- voucher farmer inputs distribution for the 2017/ 18 farming season.
District Agriculture Coordinator Misheck Jeer said during an interview with ZANIS yesterday that the exercise opened to the public on 17th October, 2017.
Mr. Jeer added that farmers would be required to deposit their contributions of K400 each through Barclays bank.
The district has registered a total of 9,021 farmers out of 18,000 for the E-voucher program adding that
only 2,800 farmers had been captured in the system so far.
Mr. Jeer has since called on farmers and co-operatives to make prompt payments to ensure timely activation of their cards in readiness for the input distribution exercise.
He further urged farmers to get authority from the agricultural office in the district before making their deposits to ensure that their cards were captured and activated.
The district was ready to conduct the farmer input distribution exercise and was awaiting government signal which had since been granted, said Luanshya District Commissioner.
Mr. Chibuye indicated in a separate interview that seven agro dealers had been engaged to implement the distribution of farming inputs in the district.
It is not surprising this government has missed this target. In fact, what targets have been met by this government?
The only target they meet is that of enriching their pockets. And silencing critics. These are their real targets, and their dedication to this is amazing.
Enough is enough.
So preoccupied with recognition cries and breaking records on who offers the longest prayers in public gatherings.
Spot on …what do you expect when the President is more interested in accumulating airmiles and the minister who is more interested in doing up her nails!!
Kekekeke is Dora on maternity leave?
Dora is not on maternity leave, She’s keeping a low profile because she does not want to be in Kambwili’s firing line. She would be an obvious target if she dares to unnecessarily open he mouth. This is a very delicate time for Dora and she has to be seen to be towing the ‘right line’.
Vely solly, we boughted some very high grade fire trucks to kill army worms with your money.
And the IMF is not comfortable with the programme in it’s current state, so just prepare for hard times.
We will however be on time during the erection year 2021, come IMF or fire trucks.
Busy growing cannabis
Everything Dora has explained appears fine but the only problem here is the Copperbelt District Agriculture Coordinator Misheck Jeer to be called ‘Jeer’ which means ‘to make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice’. This will kill the well intended process by PF which has been hijacked by MMD. Nilila bashikulu ba M.C. Sata, ninshimwtushilile ku fiwa ifi Jonathan Chaima Lungu aleta mu PF?
I said it some time back that this minister of agric Dora is a let down and best would be to fire the chap. The issue of the maize floor price is really a serious set back, fat lazy millers have made billions at the expense of the hardworking farmer. The govt couldn’t increase the price by just 30ngwee and as a result farmers are in debt and have lost all hope in the ministry of agric. Best to do away with FISP and focus on reducing the price of fertilizer so that its retail price will be in the range of K120 to K150.
If you have evidence that we missed the deadline, report us to ACC. Without this, we are on time to distrubute farming inputs.
“The ministry of health and Clever Mpoha of Savenda Management services have entered into a corrupt deal to procure 50 ambulances (basic Toyota land cruiser fitted with a small bed and surgical equipment) at $288, 000 (K2.8 million) each). See for yourself on this price list for this month how much brand new Landcruisers cost at Toyota Zambia. Even the most expensive does not reach $100, 000 (K1m).” – ZWD
6 months from now when the cars arrive …will the docile Zambians start to protest.
I wonder why we dont assembly our own ambulances in Kabwe ZRL workshop.
@jaya jaya, if they assemble in zambia how will pf mafias get rich?zambia need to change the governace system, make the three branches of govt equal, not the current form ya independent.
There is anything sophisticated with Zambian Ambulances its just tint back windows and put a siren on top!!
*There is nothing…
Last farming season the minister of agriculture went on a …………trip to USA while farmers were crying for fertilizer. I hope this season she will not go on an …………leave
We are very disappointed us transports,we delivery farming input 2016/2017 up to now we not received our monies and the other program is about to state.please ba minister gives our money.
Of are a hopeless heap of corrupt manure , all of them.
If it does not involve borrowing money it will not be done…….name any project completed by PF on time without using borrowed funds ???
But there are already distributing
My greatest disappointment is the passiveness of their boss! Take last year for instance, this minister chose to take a holiday in the middle of the farming season and her boss didn’t see anything wrong with that. Another farming season is upon us already its a mess. Its almost November input distribution hasn’t started,really and you have a full ministry eating our tax money in emoluments! We need a Mwanawasa type of president, a president who will be in control of his appointees. The buck stops at the appointing authority especially when his people are not performing.Last year performance or lack of, should have been the end of Dora in that ministry!