Delay in distribution of inputs causing anxiety - Agric expert
DELAY in the delivery of Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) has caused panic among farmers despite government flagging off the distribution process a few weeks ago.
A number of provinces have either received part of the inputs or have not received anything at all despite the onset of the rain season.
Chiengi Member of Parliament Given Katuta said her constituency had only received 4, 000 FISP packs out of 17, 000.
She said it was worrying because time was running out and that farmers needed to hit the ground running.
“My constituency has only received 4, 000 packs which needs to be shared among the 17, 000 to have an equal distribution,” She said.
Ms Katuta said Government needed to expedite the process because most people were on the verge of experiencing hunger as farming inputs
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture should give timely information to small holder farmers on the distribution of fertiliser, agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has said.
He said the delayed distribution of fertiliser in some parts of the country was causing anxiety amongst small holder farmers and would affect their production levels.
Dr Bulaya also said this should save as a lesson to the ministry going forward that the distribution of farming inputs should never be delayed.
He added that in the next farming season, the distribution of farming inputs should be expedited.
Dr Bulaya said the revamping of the agriculture sector would not be possible if government continued to delay distribution of farming inputs.
He said the sector would only receive a significant development when it has the seriousness it deserves.
Dr Bulaya said it was therefore, important that government invested heavily in the sector for it to have sufficient growth.