The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) is saddened with the confusion that has characterised the distribution of farming inputs for the 2022 -23 farming season and has since sounded the alarm saying the crisis is likely to trigger hunger in the Nation come next year if it is not well handled as it will greatly hamper Food Production.
Many farmers across the country are yet to receive farming inputs as the New Dawn government struggles to tinker with the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) which President Hakainde Hichilema recently changed to Comprehensive Agriculture Support Program (CASP).
The name change has however done little to transform the highly politicised system with thousands of small holder farmers who depend on the fertilizer and seed they get from the programme left in limbo.
And ZNFU spokesperson Calvin Kaleyi says his organisation has established that out of desperation, some famers have come up with a gentleman’s agreement where those that have been lucky enough to get farming inputs aresharing with their fellow farmers with the hope that they will reimburse them once they get their turn.
Kaleyi told the Zambia Business Times in an interview that this development is unfortunate because government is aware that the most ideal time to distribute inputs is between August and September to give farmers ample time to prepare.
He said a check by ZNFU in some selected parts of the Country such as North Western province indicate that a majority of farmers have not yet received farming inputs, and that the situation is similar in Northern and Eastern Province Provinces were very few farmers have received their inputs, a situation he described as unacceptable as it threatens National Food security.
Minister of Agriculture Mutolo Phiri recently stated that government has decided to add new beneficiaries to the FISP programme in an attempt to clean up the system as they remove farmers who have been benefitting for many years and make the programme more encompassing.
But Kaleyi says this is a lame excuse because government should be aware that to halt a sensitive programme like FISP in the name of cleaning up the system is calling for disaster as can be evidenced by the prevailing situation on the ground. He added that much as ZNFU is cognisant of the fact that the FISP programme is clogged with flaws which need immediate attention, the situation should have been handled in a much prudent and efficient manner.
‘Whilst you are cleaning the house, do not stop supplying the farmer; do not stop distributing to the farmer, because if you do so, it’s going to affect food security’.
He wondered how farmers who live in areas that get competently cut from the rest of the country when the rains intensify will get their farming inputs.
Kaleyi has however applauded the seed distribution companies for being proactive by ensuring that seed got distributed on time across the country though he was quick to add that the late approval of contracts by government did not help matters.
