Fertiliser distribution starts
Published On April 16, 2015 » 2749 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » HOME SLIDE SHOW, SHOWCASE
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By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
GOVERNMENT has started the distribution of basal dressing fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in what it described as unprecedentedly early.
The D compound basal fertiliser that was flagged off for distribution yesterday by Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda in Kafue was all produced by Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).

. Lubinda

. Lubinda

Mr Lubinda said Government decided to distribute the D compound early because it is committed to improving the agriculture sector.
He said the Zambian agriculture sector needs to diversify from maize concentration.
Mr Lubinda said FISP now included sorghum and groundnuts besides maize and rice and would soon include livestock and fisheries.
Under FISP, 106,409 tonnes of D compound will be distributed, 101,826 tonnes of Urea fertiliser, 10,000 tonnes of maize, 119 tonnes of sorghum and 1,300 tonnes of groundnuts seed would also be taken to farmers.
One million farmers are expected to benefit from FISP in the 2015-2016 farming season.
Mr Lubinda said the fact that the basal fertiliser was procured from NCZ was a clear indication that Government is on course in revamping the company and that the workers are capable of delivering.
He warned the private companies that would be contracted to supply top dressing fertiliser that they risk being black-listed if they delay to deliver the fertiliser.
Mr Lubinda also said even if some small-scale farmers are expected to suffer crop failure this year, the country is not under any threat of food shortage because it has recorded bumper harvests in the past three years.

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