Nyimba completes input distribution
ALMOST all the farmers have received farm inputs through Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), Nyimba Investment has said. Nyimba Investment head of sales and marketing, William Mulendema, said his company’s 18 depots have done 92 percent in completing the distribution of fertilizer. Mr Mulendema disclosed that the procurement of fertilizer was completed at the end of July and by August 8 this year all depots were ready for distribution. He said this during the launch of the 2020/2021 planting season at Nyakuluma village, Chief Mwanjawanthu’s area in Petauke. “Farmers have already collected 92 percent of inputs from the input supplied under FISP program distributed in 54 districts. “18 of our depots have attained 100 percent completion and by the end of this month we will complete distribution”, he said. He said the company had started bring fertilizer for the 2021/2022 farming season and that inputs would be ready in the middle of the 2021 farming season. Mr Mulendema noted that the company would to serve the farmers adequately each year. Nyimba, he said, had increased capital investment in transportation with over 150 tonnes and grain capacity of over 140 tonnes this year He said the company increased milling capacity to three mills this year in line with Government desire to help the farmers. Mr Mulendema observed that redeeming of inputs had been smooth this year. Zambia National Farmers Union president, Jervis Zimba, expressed disappointment with reports that some farmers were selling fertilizer at K280 after redeeming from the FISP programme. Mr Zimba suggested that agricultural extension officers should be inspecting beneficiaries’ fields to establish how the farmer used the inputs. He appealed to Government start labelling bags of fertilizer which farmers would be getting under FISP for easy identification and those found wanting should be removed from the system.