The Ministry of Community Development in Mpulungu district, Northern province has flagged off the distribution of farming inputs to farmers under the Food Security Pack (FSP) Programme for the 2025/2026 farming season.
Mpulungu District Commissioner, Gehard Sikazwe, launched the distribution at Isoko Secondary School and urged beneficiaries to use the inputs prudently.
Mr Sikazwe noted that the programme is costly and stressed the need for farmers to use the support for its intended purpose.
Mr Sikazwe said Government has implemented the Food Security Pack in the district for many years to enhance household food security and reduce poverty.
“If you look at these inputs that you are collecting today, they can even cost close to K7,000 at the market and Government is giving them to you for free so that you can have food in your homes,” he observed.
He also reminded farmers to pay back what is required, noting that some beneficiaries in the past failed to do so and disadvantaged others. He explained that the inputs are part of a revolving fund and each beneficiary is expected to return two bags of maize, which are later used for other empowerment initiatives within their clubs.
And Mpulungu District Community Development Officer, Cain Mbambo, said the department has received inputs for 1,896 beneficiaries, an increase from 1,413 in the 2024/2025 farming season.
Mr Mbambo said the beneficiaries have been drawn from 27 Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) across the district.
Mr Mbambo added that the number of years beneficiaries remain on the programme has been increased from two to three.
“This means that this year we will not have new members as earlier planned, but will maintain the old register and only add numbers according to the increase,” he said.
Under the programme, each beneficiary receives four bags of fertilizer, a 10kg bag of seed and a 10kg bag of legumes.
ZANIS reports that this year, 500 farmers will also receive sunflower seed to promote crop diversification.
Mr Mbambo said the department is currently cleaning its system to ensure the right people benefit, adding that distribution will begin next week.
He said sensitisation activities have already been conducted to ensure farmers understand the repayment requirement of two 50kg bags of maize or the cash equivalent.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries have thanked Government for its continued support to small-scale farmers.
One beneficiary, Clement Yambayamba, said the inputs have helped improve food security and reduce poverty in Isoko and the wider Mpulungu area.
He assured that beneficiaries will continue meeting their repayment obligations to support community development.
