Agriculture committee cautioned

CHIPATA District Commissioner Elidah Banda says Government will deal sternly with individuals who will be found wanting for getting involved in corruption related to agriculture inputs.

Ms Banda said this when she witnessed the ushering into office of the new Chipata District Agriculture Committee (DAC) held at Katopola Farm Institute.

She cautioned the new DAC members against involving themselves in corrupt practices during the 2022/2023 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) distribution exercise.

Ms Banda said her office will work closely with the Chipata District Agriculture Coordinator’s office to monitor the distribution of farming inputs.

“It is my appeal that as you shall select and approve beneficiaries of FISP in the days to come, you should ensure that the inputs go to the intended households,” Ms Banda said.

The government has allocated 17, 238 packs of inputs to Chipata under FISP for distribution during the 2022/2023 farming season..

Ms Banda disclosed that each beneficiary farmer is entitled to get 3 x 50kg basal dressing fertiliser and 3 x 50kg of top dressing fertiliser.

She also added that the FISP beneficiaries will also get 1 x 10kg bag of maize seed and choose either a 1 x 25kg bag of soya bean seed or 1 x 20kg bag of groundnut seed.

Ms Banda said the new district agriculture committee is expected to continue to help in the realisation of increased food security and household incomes for all smallholder farmers in the district.

The elections for the new DAC have since been conducted, with Mr Andrew Mtonga being elected as chairperson of the new committee.

Mr Mtonga got 13 votes of the 27 votes, while the other contenders Eliam Miti and John Mafuta managed seven votes apiece.

Mr Mtonga replaces outgoing chairperson Lillian Vergeer after she served for two years.

The vice chairperson position was scooped by Siyazi Jere after getting 13 votes to beat two other contestants.