MILLERS Association of Zambia (MAZ) has appealed to Government to make electronic vouchers ( e-vouchers) operational throughout the year in order for farmers access inputs continuously.
MAZ president Andrew Chintala said there was need for farmers under the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) to access inputs throughout the year.
Mr Chintala said in an interview that once farmers start accessing inputs under the e-voucher system at any time of the year, crop production would increase and this would create more wealth for the country.
He  said  most of the small scale farmers in the country depended on the rains for  irrigation, a trend that has hindered the growth of the agricultural sector.
“With the e-voucher operating throughout the year, farmers will be able to plant crops according to the season and increase production in the country. This way, the prices of commodities will remain stable,” he said.
Mr Chintala said it was sad that crop production was  mainly in the rain season, the period  Government provide farming inputs to farmers.
The MAZ chief also called for regional crop farming to improve yields in the country.
Mr Chintala said there was need for the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers to identify crops which yield well in certain regions.
He said Western Province for example, could concentrate on rice and wheat production due to the flood plains and the climate condition.
Mr Chintala said the concentration of planting crops according to their favourable environment would help increase the production of crops in the country.