72, 000 Muchinga farmers benefit from FISP
OVER 72, 000 farmers in Muchinga Province have benefitted from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for 2020/2021 farming season, Provincial Agricultural Coordinator (PACO) Victor Mulopa has confirmed.
Dr Mulopa said the province is expected to record 15 per cent increase in maize production following early distribution of farming inputs and favourable rains the province was receiving.
He said all beneficiaries received inputs by December 2020.
Dr Mulopa said the province recorded 252, 000 tonnes in 2019 but that the output would increase to 394,000 tonnes, an increase by over 15 per cent.
“Last year we produced 394, 000 metric tonnes of maize and this year we are expecting an increase of not less than 15 percent. This is because farmers received
inputs on time and the province is so far receiving good rainfall," Dr Mulopa said.
And Dr Mulopa said the province has received 13, 000 litres of chemical for fall army worms.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with Provincial and district administrations has since distributed the chemicals to all the nine districts in the province.
"As a province we are ready and prepared for any eventually of disease and Army worms, of course som district have reported cases of army worms which are
adequately been addressed because farmers are already accessing the chemicals," Dr Mulopa said.
Dr Mulopa said the Ministry had already opened plant clinics in all the districts where farmers could access information on various diseases and pests.
Mr Mulopa said the farming communities were happy with the support they are receiving from Government.
"Are farmers are grateful to Government for the support they are receiving and have pledged to increase production for enhanced good security," Dr Mulopa said.