Govt urged to start preps for 2019/2020 farming season

GOVERNMENT should next month start preparing for distribution of farming inputs to avoid the delays experienced during the past farming seasons, National Union for Small Scale Famers in Zambia general secretary Frank Kayula has said.

Dr Kayula told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday, it was prudent that the distribution process started early next month so that farmers could not experience the usual challenge of receiving the inputs late. He observed that the farmers had been inconvenienced enough by the delayed input distribution and it was important that the issue was addressed once and for all. Dr Kayula said it was important that the farmers’ plight was addressed because they played a key role of feeding the nation. “That has been our request, we have always said that government should kick off the exercise by April. We know the process is lengthy but our wish is have everything put in place early, especially how people are going to collect the inputs,” he said. Dr Kayula urged the government not to relax and wait for until the farming season commenced. He said doing so would subject the farmers to perpetual struggle in accessing farming inputs and result in the nation experiencing another food shortage. He said government would also avoid financial challenges by starting the process early. “Our appeal is that government at least does that as soon as it can. They should keep in mind that things work well when you plan early and start the process early,” Dr Kayula said.

Farmers had been inconvenienced enough by the delayed input distribution and it was important that the issues was addressed once and for all.