Archbishop Chama observed that the previous system was marred with dubious means in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama.
He said the programme which was meant to empower the vulnerable but viable farmers however ended up being abused by people with selfish motives.
The clergyman is however concerned that in some districts the e-voucher has not worked well and called for urgent measures.
He said the delay by government in activating e-vouchers cards for some small scale farmers in selected districts in the province is worrying as it has the potential to cause hunger.
Archbishop Chama mentioned Nsumbu and Kaputa as some of the Districts were farmers complained over the delay in the distribution of inputs when he visited the area recently.
The Archbishop has since appealed to government to expedite the process of giving farming inputs for the 2017/2018 farming season.
Archbishop Chama is optimistic that next year government will address many challenges faced by the system this year so that the exercise can commence between July August.
Meanwhile, Limulunga District Farmers Association Chairperson, George Banga has expressed disappointment with the inconsistencies that have characterized the Electronic Voucher System (E-Voucher) this farming season.
In an interview with ZANIS, Mr. Banga said a number of farmers with e-voucher cards which have been loaded with money have been failing to swipe for farming inputs.
Mr. Banga said Small Scale farmers who depend on farming for their livelihood will be disadvantaged because of the barriers surrounding the successful implementation of the e-voucher system.
He has since appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to tackle the inconsistences because if not addressed, the situation will limit productivity and harvest.
And Limulunga Assistant District Marketing and Development Officer Lasmon Kaumba confirmed that 132 farmers who have their E-Voucher cards laden with funds have failed to swipe for farming inputs.
Mr. Kaumba said farmers were unable to access farming inputs because when they attempt to swipe they receive a notification that the transaction is unauthorized.
He also disclosed that out of 289 farmers who deposited for farming inputs, 157 farmers have not yet received funds in their cards.
Mr. Kaumba has since urged farmers who have already deposited to secure their inputs for the 2018/2019 farming season.
And Provincial Senior Marketing Development Officer Chibimbi Chungu has assured farmers that the province and district are working out a solution to protect the plight of farmers.
Mr. Chungu said the province is engaging Smart Zambia, the Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters to iron out any discrepancy.
He said government is determined to ensure that farmers are able to utilize their e-voucher cards and collect their farming inputs as soon as possible.
i hear its working out well. Way to go.
Excellent Observation Your Grace!!
Farmers not able to activate cards and the minister is in Germany explaining the zambian farming methods .
Hehehehehehehehehehehr
Every system has hitches at the beginning. Medicines have to go several trials before they can safely and effectively be administered. Opponents of the e-voucher fall into one of these groups 1) People who have been illegally benefiting from the undocumented,uncontrolled distribution of in puts 2) Those trusted with the implementation of the system but belong to some known opposition party and have been tasked by their godfather to ensure the system is frustrated and derail the distribution of inputs.
I don’t expect anything else from you. I don’t know how old you are, so I will not waste my time arguing with you. Have a nice Tuesday.
Any new system wud ve to be proof-tested or piloted b4 rolling out, if run by a serious team!
Ndjanje khakis, this is not a political issue so the need for you to bring it up is senseless
Admit thst there are issues,jt is normal during implementation phase but by this year the kinks should be ironed out.
I recall the minister stating that by end of october itvwould be functioning,
It is better to admit that there will be problems thzn to blow your own trumpet znd then look silly.
That is what piop are saying, you and you pf sycophants have to politicize everything.
I am apolitical i just want zambia to function in a manner befitting a country that has indepence for 53 years and has an abundance of natural resources. Why are we looking for loans from IMF china, turkey israel
Ndjanje khakis, pf has been in power since 2011 you tell me why it has taken 7 years to resolve what you talk about illegal pipo accessing input, thought they were meant to be only 3 years, if your pf government was functioning in a proper manner then it would have addressed the incosistencies years ago. 7 years and still not getting it right.
Yes since 2011 what about those with 27 and 20 years in office. At least PF have started something. So I don’t see what your problem is. Oh unless it was some HH who started it’s going to be well with you.
Masalamuso – Do you think you can design a foolproof system?
If u had eyes or at least ears, u wud know that:
1. Smuggling was defeated by policy and not using police & soldiers in 3yrs of the 20yrs you re referring to.
2. Shortages and queuing up for essential commodities was aliminated.
3. Trnsp sector was liberalised resulting in u knowing Eurobus, CR carriers, ….etc.
4. The list goes on and on. Know you history man!
More…
5. You were lucky if you had a TV before that 20year reign! In 1 year citizens owned TV’s , radio players, remember x-bass? In short citizens were connected to the world.
6. You spent 1week with UBZ to go to y village before. Remember vigilantes and call boys who beat u up at KMB? Eg Willie Nsanda, MHSRIP. That was resolved squarely. More….
More…
6. Who new before that one cud build a house or let alone buy one! In 4 yrs of the 20, that was achieved. Now u build at will and know not that sm1 changed policies for you to own land and build on it. Pls
just appeal for good policies from current leadership so that the leave a legacy of their own and not just chasing after Mukula
Smuggling was stopped by removing subsidies. Don’t argue you were not there.
Mpundu cannot praise anything as progressive as this like Chama
The handsome face tells it all.
As is at times a newly born comes with complications. We hope these shall be corrected in the next season. When are you going to graduate to create room for others?
Let the doubters go on doubting. My worry is it’s obvious some of them are in the system and are busy putting spanners in the works. I miss our old OP these malcontents were going to be flushed out in no time.
We should not praise things which are not practical. Farmers a crying for the import which they have not received up to now. Should we praise such a system, I don’t think so. If we are going to development let’s give Farmer priority.
u5 is so pompus he cant even say thank you. instead he wants free toilets in the capital.