Government officials say more than twenty-five thousand vulnerable but viable farmers in Northern Province are projected to benefit from the Food Security Pack programme in the 2025/2026 farming season.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Mpundu stated that the programme remains a tool government is using to support vulnerable households and improve rural livelihoods. His remarks were delivered in a speech read on his behalf by Northern Province Assistant Secretary Mwenya during the provincial launch of the programme in Mungwi.
Mpundu said the province raised over K16 million through recoveries from previous programme cycles and that the funds have been channelled back into productive assets. According to his statement, the recovered funds were used to purchase tractors, tillers, treadle pumps, hammer mills and oil expellers among other equipment intended to improve agricultural output.
Mungwi District Commissioner Muma Musonda told attendees that the Community Welfare Assistant Committees are currently developing a K2.2 million community multi-facility, which he said will be the first such establishment in the district. He further indicated that over 1,800 vulnerable households, drawn from 20 of the 100 committees, will benefit from this year’s allocation.
Musonda explained that individual beneficiaries receive a 10 kilogramme bag of cereal or legumes, a 10 kilogramme bag of maize seed, two 50 kilogramme bags of D-compound fertiliser, and two 50 kilogramme bags of urea fertiliser.
Northern Province Community Development Officer Mary Namwinga said the programme has helped many households improve their food security and income capacity. She warned beneficiaries against diverting or selling inputs, stating that such practices work against the intended policy goals.
Mungwi District Council Chairperson Grace Chisanga urged beneficiaries to apply the inputs directly toward production in order to strengthen the impact of the intervention.
Chimanga village beneficiary Kedrick Mulenga said the support has helped vulnerable households push towards self-reliance and stable food availability at household level.
The Acting Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people commended government for maintaining the programme in his area. He directed village headmen under his chiefdom to monitor its usage and said individuals who misuse the inputs would be removed from the programme and may face prosecution.
