By CASSEY KAYULA –
NATIONAL Union for Small Scale Farmers Association of Zambia (NUSFAZ) says delays in the distribution of inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) will lead to reduced Productivity during 2016/17 agricultural season.
NUSFAZ president Frank Kayula said that distribution of farming inputs for 2016/17 had been characterized by delays which he said would impact negatively on the country’s food security.
He said this in an interview in Lusaka at the weekend.
“Many households in Zambia will be affected this agricultural season if the FISP is not effectively implemented this farming season,” Mr Kayula said.
He said the distribution of seed and fertilizer under the FISP programme had been chaotic in most parts of the country.
Mr Kayula said the e-voucher system being piloted by the Ministry of Agriculture had not benefited intended beneficiaries.
“We need to effectively handle this e-voucher system this agricultural season if we are going to increase productivity, agro suppliers have not been sensitised, farmers have not been sensitised and most of these small scale farmers know how this works,” he said.
He stated that the e-voucher project was a good thing which could revolutionize agro input distribution in Zambia if properly implemented.
