By JAMES KUNDA-
Government will this month launch delivery of the 2014-2015 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to help minimise challlenges experienced in last year’s farming season.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa said in Ndola yesterday that the delivery of seed and fertiliser to farmers countrywide would commence this month and end by August 31, 2014.
He said the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) will produce more than 100,000 tonnes of basal dressing (compound-D) fertiliser and 10,000 tonnes of top dressing (Urea) fertiliser for the 2014-2015 FISP.
Mr Simuusa said the country will have to import some quantities of Urea because NCZ still needs to modify some sections of its plant to manufacture top dressing fertiliser on large-scale basis.
“Government will ensure that delivery of inputs is done on time so that farmers do not have to delay their crop growing projects,” he said.
Mr Simuusa has since directed all provincial agricultural offices in the country to ensure that input depots at district level are stocked with enough seed and fertiliser by the end of August.
In a related development, Mr Simuusa has disclosed that Government will not use the e-voucher system to deliver inputs to farmers this year.
“The e-voucher will not be implemented this year because its nature of application requires a lot of time and Government does not want any delays to derail the delivery of inputs to farmers,” Mr Simuusa said.
He, however, said the Government would conduct trials on the e-voucher system so that it could be used as a mode of input delivery in the 2015-2016 farming season.
Mr Simuusa also urged district agricultural coordinators on the Copperbelt Province to work efficiently to ensure success of the FISP.
He said this during a familiarisation meeting with Ndola district agricultural staff yesterday where the minister emphasised that Government wanted the FISP to be a success for the purpose of food security.