The Patriotic Front (PF) party says Farmers in Monze District have recorded a maize bumper harvest following government’s timely delivery of inputs to more than 28,000 beneficiaries farmers under the programme.
And the PF has advised the opposition members of parliament to desist from denouncing government and campaigning during funerals as it was a wrong place and time to do so.
Speaking during a walk-in interview with ZANIS ,Bweengwa Constituency PF Chairman Mainza Kabwata noted that the district was food secure due to the successfully implementation of the farmer Input support Programme (FISP) which resulted in a bumper harvest.
He said timely delivery of farming inputs during the 2019/2020 farming season was testimony of government’s unwavering commitment to support the agriculture sector and sustain its growth in the District.
“I can tell you that small scale farmers are grateful to government for timely and successful implementation of the FISP which has resulted in a bumper harvest and ultimately household food security in the entire District,” said Mr. Kabwata.
Mr. Kabwata also says most farmers were happy with the maize floor price announced by FRA adding that most farmer’s production costs were covered by government through the FISP.
He said the upward adjust of the floor price of the commodity from K80 during the 2018/2019 marketing season to K110 during this year’s marketing season was a fair deal which should encourage small scale farmers to sale to the agency and reap meaningful profits.
“ I want to say that most farmers I have interacted with are happy with the floor price of K110 because they are beneficiaries of the FISP and the price is also a reasonable upwards adjustment,’’ said Mr. Kabwata adding that most farmers in the area are waiting for FRA to sale their commodity.
And Mr. Kabwata has taken a strong swipe at opposition law makers in the habit of campaigning and denting the image of government during funerals at the expense of talking about fulfilling their ‘botched’ promises.
He pointed out that it was disheartening to hear some opposition law makers in the District talking ill about the PF government that it did little to cushion the hunger situation last year but added that the government made tremendous efforts in the relief food distribution in the District thus ensuring that no one died of hunger.
Mr. Kabwata has since advised people in Monze to support government on its path to continue to bring development to the area.
And Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner, Peter Mwiinde has attributed the consistent high agricultural productivity in the district to good agricultural policies by the government.
Mr Mwiinde has noted that the district has consistently continued to record an increase in maize yields annually due to early delivery of farming inputs and enhanced agricultural extension services to small scale farmers in the area.
According to the 2019/2020 crop forecast, Kapiri Mposhi District has recorded a total of 173,432 metric tonnes of maize yields, ranking the district highest in country.
In the 2018/2019 farming season, the district recorded the second-highest maize production in the country with a total yield of 124,339 metric tonnes of the commodity.
Speaking during a District management meeting Mr Mwiinde said the government had ensured that it provided agricultural inputs on time through the e-voucher system to farmers in the area.
“I want to commend the government of his excellency Dr. Edgar Lungu for spearheading the implementation of good agriculture policies that are now bearing fruit in our district as we have consistently remained on top in maize production in the country,’’ Mr Mwiinde said.
Mr Mwiinde has since implored small scale farmers in the district not to sale their maize at low prices to briefcase buyers.
And District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Chiluba Wabalika said his ministry has intensified extension services in all the 53 agricultural camps and was encouraging small scale farmers to adopt conservation farming for improved crop yields.
Mr Chiluba said in the 2019/2020 agricultural season the district increased the yield of maize per hectare planted to 2.2 tonnes from 1.9 tonnes in the 2018/2019 farming season.
He said the 173,432 metric tonnes was harvested from 59,506 hectares planted.
Bumper or no bumper harvest sorry PF kuya bebele next year. Too much damage has been done by you
Thank God for the plenty rains last season, the humiliation that people go through when receiving the DMMU 12 kg mealie meal bags, how they are paraded like market merchadise and how opposition run areas are accused of not working with the ruling party to foster development, now there is a bumper harvest the ruling party can’t even thank the opposition MPs , but want to take all the credit.
In nearby Katuba constituency, the PF did not deliver inputs. I know it because my own relatives are affected.
I keep looking at that $1 million depot.
Look at that entrance with iron sheets for door Ati Zambian contractors have tender to build it’s-modern depots for FRA.
“I can tell you that small scale farmers are grateful to government for timely and successful implementation of the FISP which has resulted in a bumper harvest and ultimately household food security in the entire District,” said Mr. Kabwata.
NO SIR, YOU DHOULD BE SAYING THANK YOU AS THESE FARMERS ARE FEEDING THE NATION!
Is that a personal or FRA shed?
Be grateful……Nafuti Nafuti….More next year….Our nation should be food secure as we diversify. We will vote with our stomachs full and continue in with our production. Hey no disturbances! Nikulima che, God Bless Mother Zambia.
The so called “Bumper Harvest” has not even translated to lower food prices.
Furthermore , every province must have its own strategic food reserves in case of hunger. You cant take maize grown in one province and provide relief food to people in your strongholds during by-elections. The PF have shamelessly neglected the provinces that grow the maize in the first place.
@independent: firstly, lower food prices will only happen when we the consumers realise that it is the middlemen and millers and not GRZ who manipulate mealie meal prices. Secondly, southern province is no longer the largest grower of maize as Eastern, Central, Northern and Muchinga contribute more than 80% of the maize grown in Zed.
So you are admitting that all those years that we had a poor harvest it was your fault.
Is it PF timely input or ZNFU/FRA etc?
Don’t take the credit you plunderers, pay us Agro Dealers! Atase, bumper harvest kwisa ifyabupuba!