By PASSY HAACHIZO –
Vice-President Inonge Wina has called for speedy activation of farmer’s electronic voucher cards (e-vouchers) saying the tardy pace at which the process was going threatened to cripple the projected harvest from this season.
An exasperated Ms Wina said in Kabwe yesterday she was saddened that so many weeks after the vouchers were released, many had still not been activated.
She was speaking when she called on Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga at his office in Kabwe, a day after scores of farmers in Chipata had staged a protest at the provincial administration offices express their displeasure at the slow activation of their cards.

WINA

Ms Wina said she planned to meet agro dealers in the coming days to discuss the matter which she said threatened to undermine efforts to achieve this year’s projected maize harvest.
“It is a pity that the e-voucher cards are being delayed in being activated, I wish I could talk to them in person and it is my wish that this scenario should not replicate itself,” Ms Wina said.
The e-voucher, administered through selected banks enables participating farmers to draw fertiliser, seeds and agro-chemicals from selected suppliers across the country.
Ms Wina said Government was taking a strong stance to protect the crop as demonstrated by its quick response to the reported threat of red locusts, after a spell battling an armyworm invasion in various parts of the country.
She commended Mr Mushanga for the province putting in place its own plan to deal with the threatened of a red locust attack in Mumbwa where hundreds of farmers are battling the pest.
Mr Mushanga praised President Edgar Lungu for his leadership in the fight against the armyworm and hailed the involvement of fellow MPs who joined the campaign.