The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction in Eastern province has called on President Edgar Lungu to declare the 2017/2018 farmer input distribution exercise through the e-voucher system as a national disaster without any further delays.
CSPR Eastern Province Coordinator Maxson Nkhoma has noted with disappointment that the current happenings in the agriculture sector do not reflect any sign of government’s commitment towards walking the talk on economic diversification as alluded to by the President in his address to Parliament in October 2017.
He recalls that the head of state is on record when he addressed Parliament to have said that his government was going to diversify the economy from mining dependence to the agriculture sector by increasing government support towards the sector.
Mr Nkhoma says CSPR is particularly concerned that the government has not started the distribution of farming inputs to farmers as of today, 12th December, 2017 a month after the rains had started, and when the minister of agriculture had addressed Parliament and indicated that the farming inputs distribution would start by 15th October, 2017.
He says the delay in the distribution of farming inputs to farmers is a worse disaster when compared to army worms which can be easily eliminated using pesticides.
Mr Nkhoma noted that in view of numerous cries and complaints from the farmers over delayed farming inputs and late payment by the Food Reserve Agency, it has become increasingly very important for the President to address the nation and declare the 2017/2018 farmer input distribution exercise a national disaster so that emergency farmer rescue interventions can be explored.
PF leadership under Edgar Lungu has no idea about agriculture. If they did, they would have invested $42 million into the sector rather than but fire tenders, you need not be a rocket scientist to understand that the return on this investment would have benefited millions of Zambians. Bakoswe mumpoto bafula!
Bakoswe ate all seeds.
Bakoswe muma farm.
With cool cash from Mukula trees and fancy trips abroad who can care about the poor farmers? People are enjoying too much to be disturbed by the cries of these farmers.
Had the farmers had a good price to sell their maize they wouldve had enough funds to purchase their farm inputs without relying on FISP!
Now Dora and her failed technocrats such as the over-stayed Agric PS Shawa with the schemes of the likes of Mutati deliberately wanted to create a situation that favoured millers and maize buyers who they themselves are connected to.
What a bunch of evil people they are, if the President has a heart I beg of him to fire these scoundrels who have killed farmers – next year when we have a food shortage Zambians will not forget and come 2021 we will see what happens!
uyu ni PAYA FARMER.
Thank you CSPR for a clear and important message to the President, what should the President be doing or saying to correct the disaster. How can the Disaster mitigation unit help to correct the damage? The diversification talk or speeches has become a joke in our nation, there is no commitment to agriculture and yet it holds the key for Zambia’s economic transformation. There is need for leadership and direction in the management of our country, we have awarded contract and resources to outsiders and taken the role of captain who is not in the field. Expecting outsiders to develop Zambia is the biggest joke, that wont happen,
Henry you are waisting your time . This country has no President. There is only a PF president who rushes to the copperbelt when he hears that the opposition are getting more popular than the PF. Agriculture and food insecurity is not his business. His vision is to remain in power as long as it takes because he wants no body to know about his quick-made wealth.
Its high time farmers stopped their over reliance on government programs and intervention in the farming and agri marketing activities. Farming is a business and it should not be government policy to interfere in business and market forces. Let farmers learn to procure their own inputs and stop relying on subsidies and also find their own markets. Government work is just to provide an enabling environment. Also farmers should diversify from growing and selling just maize but consider other non political cash crops.
PF has not failed in this regard, its the same farmers who have been spoiled by past governments. Its high time they changed their attitudes otherwise this agri business and maize food has now so politicized in Zambia like the issue of bursary and students allowances should be scrapped.
Imwe naimwe stop behaving like a dunderhead, the government has not paid the farmers for their produce so where do you expect them to get the money from. These PF blind followers awe sure
Tinta, exactly what I’m saying that if the farmers had sold their produce to other markets than FRA, they wouldn’t have been in this situation. Look at the white farmers, they source their own markets. Besides its high time the farmers started growing other products like Kandolo, irish potatoes, soya, sorghum, rice. Why should it be maize all the time. Forcing government to buy maize is a drain on national offers. Government can only compete with the private sector when it comes to buying strategic reserves.
kummawa why should a Food reserve agency concentrate only on buying maize? why can’t they reserve other food crops aswell? let them prove their names worth by reserving other food crop varieties,perhaps the peasant farmer will diversify to other crops.
OK you can keep your ka maize reserve agency, we have already found market elsewhere.
You are ana ***** Kumawa and you have no idea about what you are talking about.
A system is as good as the executioner. The E-Voucher system is good but as usual people want to exploit to their advantage.
Pilato is spot on
Farmers ensure You use your vote wisely, look @ ones track record, vote NOT because people offer You chitenge materials, beer, & useless catchy Cadre songs.
I’m sure You are now realising You CANNOT EAT, OR PLANT DUNUNA REVERSE!!
Knuckle head terrible! whats your comment?
A senior Min of Agric official has said farmers should be patient, really? When he and his likes are receiving a salary and endless allowances from endless workshops and travels. Be serious – Shame.
Heed Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s Warning
Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people recently gave a profound and timely warning to the government to be sincere with Zambians in its pronouncements. This should not be brushed aside as usual, the paramount chief knows what he is talking about, government may regret this attitude soon. .
The worst of these include Hon Ronald Chitotela always lying that contractors on various housing and infrastructure projects have been paid yet projects in many places are sitting abandoned for non payments. Hon, Dora Siliya with failure to pay farmers and the FISP, mess while she always sweet talks empty promises. Prof Nkandu Luo has failed about getting rid of the numerous sub standard universities, colleges and qualifications, yet always keeps…
Why do you call them honourable when the are liars. Politicians are the most dishonourable people. They are fake human beings