Government will this year introduce new the E voucher system to enable 241,000 small scale farmers access farming inputs.
The pilot project will be introduced in 10 districts across the country for the 2013/2014 farming season.
Deputy minister of chiefs and traditional affairs Susan Kawandami disclosed this during a sensitization meeting on the removal of maize subsidies with residents in Mitenge area of Chifubu constituency in Ndola yesterday.
Ms Kawandami who is also Chifubu Member of Parliament said the new system will be a pilot programme which will later be extended to other districts in the country.
She said government was concerned with the challenges that small scale farmers were facing in purchasing and access farming inputs.
“This system is flexible, it will enable farmers to have access to fertilizer, seeds and pesticides in a convenient manner, we do not want to have a system were our farmers delay to sell or acquire products and inputs because of having problems with the bank,” she explained.
Ms Kawandami said government would continue supporting small scale farmers despite removing the maize subsidies and double the payments for the Farmer Input Support Programme-FISP.
She said farmers will be allowed to butter fertilizer with maize in the next marketing season.
Ms Kawandami who is in her constituency to explain the benefits of the removal of maize subsidies urged the people to be patient with the government as they would soon realize the benefits of the decision.
ZANIS
I don’t understand. Maybe someone can educate me. About 80% of Zambians are small scale farmers and these produced more than 70% of either beef or Maize. The demographic data(FAO,2011), indicates that Zambia population is seemly to 13,000,000 of (0.8 x 13=11.2 million) Therefore bana Minister you only give 241 000/11,200,000*100.
I do know the statistical power you have to detect error. your sample size is very small to come up with an inference at( p<0.05)
What is an e-voucher and how does it work? Enlighten us please, quarter baked journalists!
They work like makuponi in kaunda era.. only that this time you use a computer and the name has morphed from kuponi to e-voucher
The e-voucher system which requires the internet is bound to fail as farmers will be waiting if there is a persistant problem of internet especially in rural areas. Speaking from experience, the government which means well here, should have seen from previous e-voucher system users like FAO & CARE who have done programmes using the e-vouchers. Coupled with illiteracy & internet problems, our farmers will lose out. Also risk of manipulation is very high as suppliers charge exhorbitant prices or exchange vouchers for cash which is a lot less than face value. Don’t try to mend something which is not broken. You have been warned!
Thank sir/madam. I am now educated. e-banking, e something to my mother in the village. My foot. It is a failure already even Miombo/OMINIAN AT LEAST HAD 20 MILLION. THIS ONE THE MALAYSIAN WILL HAVE 1 BILLION.
ifya kwikatila ku muchila!! “e-voucher, e-voucher!” How many farmers have access to the internet, let alone own a computer?? So we continue with subsidies to peasant farmers who only produce to consume with a bit extra for some pocket money – a model that has never really been profitable – production subsidies make an impact when large scale production is supported – leading to large exports – leading to re-couping the inputs.
Mmmmmm…… buttered fertilizer!
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glamorscene ?????? + a http://www.nyjhq.com/index/2013-11/SYY/liousvuitton-index.html