Luampa reverts to FISP
LUAMPA district in Western Province has reverted to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) after abandoning the e-voucher.
This follows challenges which characterised the distribution of fertiliser and seed packs in the previous farming season.
Luampa district agriculture and coordinating officer Pias Mambo disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Nation in Western Province. Mr Mambo disclosed that the district was targeting to cater for 3, 000 farmers and was also expecting about 18, 000 tonnes of inputs to be delivered in the 2018/2019 farming season.
“Previously, we were under e-voucher but we have re- verted back to input support programme.
This is because as you know Luampa is a rural district and so we were having a problem with network to have the cards activated on time,” he said.
“It was realised that farmers were being disadvantaged. We also had a challenge of storage and we ended up using the first come first serve criteria,” he explained.
Mr Mambo said that from what was expected to be delivered to the district this year, all the 3, 000 farmers in Luampa would receive inputs comprising urea, 10kg seed, D-compound fertiliser and sorghum.
“However, we have not yet received and we are hoping it will be delivered before the rain starts.
I also must state that Luampa has the potential to be one of the best districts in agriculture,” he said.
Before it became a district, Luampa was operating under Kaoma district but this made it difficult to explore its development potential.