FISP confusion persists over arrears

THE confusion that has dogged the distribution of farm inputs through the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) is far from over as suppliers have reportedly refused to release the products to agro dealers over last season’s debts.

THE confusion that has dogged the distribution of farm inputs through the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) is far from over as suppliers have reportedly refused to release the products to agro dealers over last season’s debts.

The Ministry of Agriculture has allegedly failed to make payment commitments to the suppliers for last season’s arrears so that they can release the inputs to the agro dealers.

Meetings between the ministry and its stakeholders aimed at resolving the issue of outstanding payments have also failed to take place.

The Agro-Business Association of Zambia (ABAZ) has now turned to State House to intervene in the impasse.

ABAZ trustee George Phiri yesterday told the Daily Nation the situation now called for the intervention of President Edgar Lungu because the Ministry of Agriculture had proved elusive.

“Our suppliers are telling us they cannot give us inputs and incur more debt on debt since agro dealers have not been paid for last season’s inputs given to farmers. All they are saying is that they need an assurance that Government will pay, with a clear payment terms,” Mr Phiri said.

“We have written a number of letters to the ministry asking for a meeting for all the stakeholders, but they have never cared to respond to us. On Wednesday, we went to see the permanent secretary but he told us to go there the following day. We are from his office right now and, again, he has told us to go back tomorrow,” Mr Phiri said.

He said agro dealers were only asking for transparency over the matter.

He said the ministry had been failing to engage agro dealers and that had led to the current situation in which agro dealers were in a limbo.