AGRICULTURE and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa flags off theFarmer Input Support Programme (FISP) fertiliser distribution for the 2014/2015 farming season at the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) in Kafue yesterday. Picture by CLEVER ZULU
By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
GOVERNMENT has flagged-off the 2014/2015 input distribution exercise under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to support one million small-scale farmers across the country at a cost of K2.1 billion. There has been an increase of beneficiaries this year from last year’s 900,000 to one million farmers.
So far, 32,000 tonnes of both D-compound and top dressing (Urea) have been distributed countrywide. Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Wylbur Simuusa said the Government had increased support to the small-scale farmers from 900,000 to 1 million.
He was speaking during the flagging-off of the input distribution exercise for the 2014/2015 agriculture season in Kafue yesterday. Mr Simuusa said the Government was focused on improving the productivity and efficiency from the current 2.3 tonnes per hectare for small-scale farmers to more than 3 tonnes per hectare of maize.
“This will guarantee production of not less than 4 million tonnes of maize for the 2014/2015 agriculture season.
We will soon be distributing production targets per province and district to ensure that we achieve this super bumper harvest,” Mr Simuusa said. He said the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) would produce 106,409 tonnes of D-Compound.
More than 10,300 tonnes of fertiliser had been produced so far. Mr Simuusa said the Government targets to procure 101,826 tonnes of Urea, 10,000 tonnes of maize seed, 127 tonnes of rice seed, 119.1 tonnes of sorghum seed and 1,357 tonnes of ground nut seed.
“We are determined to ensure that all the farming inputs reach our farmers on time. One of the strategies being employed is to start the input distribution programme early and hence, the official flagging off we are all witnessing today (yesterday),” he said.
At the same function, Kafue Member of Parliament, Obvious Mwaliteta said the recapitalisation of NCZ means a lot for the people of Kafue.
