KALOMO district commissioner, Joshua Sikaduli has urged farmers receiving the 2022/2023 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to ultilise the inputs in order to enhance food security at household and national level.
Mr. Sikaduli notes that there has been a tendency by some farmers to sell out fertilisers they get under the programme instead of putting the inputs to their intended use, warning that such practices would not be tolerated.
ZANIS reports that the District Commissioner said this when he flagged off this season’s FISP input collection exercise on Tuesday.
“Despite the many challenges that have been met along the way in the implementation of this programme, I want to call upon you to be patient with the system and allow officers to do their work so that you acquire your inputs,” Mr. Sikaduli said.
The district has received 1,562 metric tonnes of Urea and 1,040 of the same quantity of Basal dressing fertiliser supplied by ALFA commodities.
183 metric tons of maize seed and 110 tonnes of Soya beans from Zambezi seed , Seedco and Afriseed while groundnuts are still being awaited from Kariba and Kamano seed companies, acting district agriculture coordinator, Ng’andu Simuulu disclosed.
So far, 20,040 farmers have made their deposits in the selected Eight financial outlets in the district representing 64.6 per cent of the 31,000 FISP target, remaining with 10,960 farmers.
By Wednesday, farmers have started collecting their inputs from various points in the district namely : Agro Champ. Steve B Carriers, Veflo and Ruze farm in Mukwela where the commodities are being stored.
Kalomo district of Southern province is among the top maize producers in the country.