By KENNEDY MUPESENI  –

in Mungwi
THIS year’s early distribution of inputs under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FISP) will help to increase maize productivity in the country, Chitimukulu Agriculture Cooperative secretary Humphrey Kacholi has said.
Last month, minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda flagged off the distribution of fertilisers for 2015/16 farming season, which is unprecedentedly early in the history of FISP.
Mr Kacholi said in Mungwi that farmers had been asking for early delivery of inputs.
He said in next farming season fertiliser and seeds should be available in cooperative depots in the vicinity of farmers to encourage winter cropping and other farming activities for the country to be food sufficient.
He said in an interview at Chief Chitimukulu’s Palace that despite the early input delivery farmers were likely to access inputs late as they would be waiting to be paid by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“If FRA delays in paying farmers they are likely to get inputs late,” Mr Kacholi said.
He appealed to Government to reduce delays in the actual distribution of the farming inputs and alleged that sometimes inputs arrive in districts early but take more time to reach the beneficiaries.
By last week, Mungwi had received more than 463 tonnes of basal dressing fertiliser from the total of 1,300 tonnes to be distributed to farmers in the district.
“Farmers are delighted that input distribution would be done early to allow farmers plan for the 2015/2016 farming season,” said acting Mungwi district commissioner Mwape Mumbi.
About three trucks, each loaded with 700 by 50 Kilogramme of D compound fertiliser, were seen offloading the commodity at Mungwi
district depot.