Maravi

20,000 farmers to benefit from ZNCB's new scheme

20,000 farmers to benefit from ZNCB's new scheme
By Chibaula Silwamba in Kapiri Mposhi
Tuesday November 20, 2007 [03:00]

ABOUT 20,000 small-scale farmers are expected to benefit from the new Munda Credit Scheme being offered by the Zambia National Commercial Bank during the 2007/2008 farming season. And agriculture deputy minister Daniel Kalenga assured farmers that the government will consider providing additional fertiliser following the outcry from several districts about the reduction in the amounts of fertiliser that had been distributed countrywide.

Speaking during the national launch of fertiliser distribution by the ZNCB in conjunction with the National Association of Peasant and Small-scale Farmers of Zambia, the farmers’ association president Rodgers Phiri said 20,000 small-scale farmers in six districts were going to benefit from the New Munda Credit Scheme this farming season.

“Our association requested for a loan in the amount of K10 billion from Zambia National Commercial Bank.

This will carter for membership of 20,000 small-scale farmers who are expected to participate in 2007/2008 farming season to grow 10,000 hectares of maize,” Phiri said.

He said Zambian agriculture was in the hands of small-scale farmers who produce 60 percent of maize.

Phiri appealed to the government to release the irrigation fund to small-scale farmers that were working with ZNCB.
And ZNCB head of retail credit Addie Liempe said the new munda credit scheme pilot project was a great success.

And Kalenga said the reduction in fertiliser allocation was due to the reduction in the budgetary allocation to the fertilizer support programme.

“Last year the budget for fertiliser support programme was K250 billion, this year it was reduced to K150 billion for fertiliser support programme for the whole country,” he explained. “But as your listening government we will do everything possible to bring you additional fertiliser.”

Kalenga also said the partnership between the National Association for Peasant and Small-scale Farmers of Zambia and ZNCB was commendable and would supplement government’s efforts in providing inputs to small scale farmers.

Kalenga urged small-scale farmers to work hard so that they graduate to commercial farmers.

Labels: CREDIT FACILITIES, FARMERS

posted by MrK @ 4:34 AM