A civic leader in Kabwe district of Central Province says 2017/2018 farming season was challenging to small scale farmers.
Luwansanse Ward Councillor Collins Musonda said several farmers were not able to access farming inputs through the e-voucher system under Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Mr. Musonda said this during the Waya agricultural block show at Kafulamase in Kabwe district.
He said the problem was worsened by the drought that was experienced in most parts of the district.
Mr. Musonda said the district experienced a dry spell for one month and this destroyed most of the crops planted by small scale farmers in the area.
He however said, government is committed to help small scale farmers and work on modalities to ease challenges that characterized the e-voucher system.
Mr. Musonda urged farmers to strengthen their cooperatives and societies in order to grow the sector.
He observed that farmers in groups will be able to achieve more as opposed to individual approach.
The Councillor said farmers in the district will be food secure because of embracing crop diversification despite the challenges.
And Waya Block Show Chairperson Paul Chisanga said an undisclosed number of farmers have not been able to redeem their e-voucher cards since the 2015/2016 farming season.
Mr. Chisanga urged the government to examine and address the challenges that have characterized FISP for the past three seasons.
He said with the current challenges small scale farmers cannot graduate from highly government subsidized inputs.
Zambians should abandon farming and leave that function to we Chinese. We’ve had centuries of farming experience. Zambian people can become labour providers for our farms. Such symbiosis will become a win-win position to both ethnic groups.