The Nitrogen Chemical of Zambia has so far produced 17 thousand metric tons of D compound fertilizer for the 2021/2022 farming season.
Speaking in an interview in Kafue yesterday, NCZ Chief Executive Officer, William Mwale said 10 thousand metric tons of D compound is meant for the Farmer input support programme (FSP) while 7 thousand metric tons is destined to the open market.
Mr Mwale stated that NCZ will distribute D compound fertilizer to four districts in Lusaka province which is Lusaka, Chilanga, Chongwe and Kafue.
“The company has a target of producing 23 thousand metric tons of fertilizer before the end of this year, Mr Mwale said.
And Kafue Area Member of parliament Mirriam Chonya has urged NCZ to ensure farmers get the fertilizer before the onset of the rain season.
She said distribution of farming inputs during the rainy season becomes a challenge as most roads become impassable.
Why is NCZ still alive? It is inefficient (the plant was obsolete when it was built), a waste of taxpayers’ money to keep it going and the important inputs must be imported in any case. It cannot compete on price and quality with the large producers. Let us import fertilizer if we must and focus our resources on areas that need it. Such as education, electricity and agricultural improvement. The latter by moving away from artificial inputs. Like Indeni NCZ is a weight around our necks.
Without crop rotation fertilizer only depletes the soil, you need more of it with every harvest. And WITH crop rotation one doesn’t need ANY fertilizer. But try to tell that to the Zambian farmer, 95% only plants maize and therefore needs MORE fertilizer every year!