Gwembe DC happy with FISP uptake

THE uptake of the Farmer Input Supply Programme (FISP) in Gwembe is impressing with 4, 300 of the 4, 400 beneficiary farmers redeeming their inputs, says District Commissioner, Timothy Siakaziba.

In an interview, Mr. Siakaziba described the FISP exercise for the 2020/2021 farming season as a success.

He was happy that 95 percent of the farmers on the programme had so far redeemed their inputs. He pointed out that the government had also deposited about 90 percent of its top up towards the farmer contributions.

He stressed that the government was committed to ensuring that the agriculture sector thrives. Mr. Siakaziba said that the emphasis on diversification to agriculture was not just rhetoric, but a reality that the government was pursuing.

He said that it was for this reason that the government was insisting on early delivery of inputs in order to enhance agricultural activities and assure greater yields.

Mr. Siakaziba also disclosed that the government only contracted six of the 20 agro dealers who had applied to supply the inputs.

He said that the agro dealers were selected based on past performance. He was therefore pleased that the six agro dealers had not disappointed and had performed beyond expectation.

Mr. Siakaziba also disclosed that the agro dealers were very transparent and did not fully swipe the money from farmers who had only partially redeemed their inputs.

He said this was a positive development as farmers who only redeemed part of the inputs were being duped in the last two seasons.

Mr. Siakaziba also noted that the district had received good rainfall so far and hoped that this would continue. He said that the good rains coupled with the early distribution of inputs would assure greater yields.