Government will this year further subsidise the farming inputs from the current 60% under the Fertiizer Support Programme (FSP).
Vice president Rupiah Banda disclosed this on arrival in Katete, Eastern province today.
He is in the area to drum up support for MMD candidate Reuben Banda in the Milanzi constituency by-elections billed for 26th of this month.
Mr Banda said government will further subsidise the farming inputs and also improve the crop marketing system in order to improve the agriculture sector.
The vice president expressed satisfaction at the support the MMD has recived from the people of Milanzi and was optimistic the the party will emerge victorious in the by election which arose following the death of incumbent MP Chosani Njobvu in March this year.
He noted that the MMD government has implemented several development projects in the constituency such as rehabilitation of roads, bridges and construction of schools and clinics which the people of Milanzi have appreciated.
Meanwhile, MMD deputy National Secretary Geofrey Kaande has said the ruling party is a waging an issue-based and non-violent campaign in the Milanzi by-election.
Mr Kaande urged other contestants to do the same.
Other candidates contesting the seat are UPND’s Chimwala Phiri, Francis Phiri for FDD, Peter Phiri for PF, APC’s Stephen Phiri and UNIP’s Ahmed Randera.
The Vice President arrived in Katete around 13.00 hours and will be in Katete until Sunday.
This is just a campaign strategy. MMD have no policy on agric worthy talking about. Early this year they said there were going to reduce fertiliser subsidies and now during elections where they are allowed by the ectoral commission to disribute food, they are saying they will increase subsidies. How are they going to do it because they did not budget for it. Are they having a second thought on farming after the world food meeting?
OK
Ayi #1, I thought I heard something like discontinuation of subsidies on farming inputs, why the change of heart, it is hard to believe how we are not making progress politically as a country. Did I say hard to believe, I meant depressing.
IF U ER A ZAMBIAN LEADER,U SHOULD VE A HEART 4 YO COUNTRY AND THE PIPO AT LARGE NOT SELFISH LEADERSHIP.AS A LEADER U SHOULD ASK YOSELF WHETHER U ARE ADDING VALUE TO THIS COUNTRY OR U ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEMS THE COUNTRY IS CURENTLY FACING.
The entire Fertiizer Support Programme (FSP) is a complete waste of time because is consumes 40% of the ministry’s budget.
Furthermore the fact is that the majority of those who benefit can afford fertilizer at the current retail price.
We really need to get away from this habit of living off handouts it only serves to encourage laziness.
New Passports next month
The Issuance of new passports is expected to start next month.
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta said the government has already put into place necessary logistics such as equipment for the entire process which kick start’s in July.
She told ZNBC news that training and recruitment of staff who will mann the new office is expected to start this month end.
The Home Affairs Permanent Secretary noted that Zambia decided to join the international community by bringing in a new passport with sophisticated features that cannot be forged.
I think the increase in subsidies is ok but rather unimaginative. How about rehabilitating the old cooperatives? How about creating hundreds of thousands of commercial scale farmers. That would help the economy, food security, unemployment, and would be the true ‘diversification’ of the economy we have been looking for. Create synergy with the manufacturing sector (creating food stuffs like crackers from maize, which would need packaging, marketing, etc. and bourbon and many other maize products) and that would stimulate manufacturing and create more jobs.