Farmers laud govt for increasing fertiliser subsidy
Farmers laud govt for increasing fertiliser subsidyBy Fridah Zinyama
Thursday August 14, 2008 [04:00]
THE National Association for Peasant and Small-Scale Farmers of Zambia has said the government's decision to increase the fertiliser subsidy for the 2008/2009 farming season will help increase food security in the country.
In a statement, Association president Rogers Phiri noted that there were concerns among stakeholders that the initial K185 billion that the government had allocated for the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) was not enough to ensure good maize production in the face of the food crisis the world is experiencing.
Phiri stated that it was gratifying that the government had recognised the effects of the rising costs of inputs on agricultural production in the country.
"It is encouraging to see that all stakeholders in the agriculture sector are working together to ensure an increase in food production in the country," he stated.
Phiri added that the small- scale farmers had also come up with an initiative meant to add value to government's effort towards improving food production in the country.
Phiri stated that the New Munda Credit Scheme that the national association had created would target about 20,000 peasant and small-scale farmers for the 2008/9 farming season.
Finance minister Ng'andu Magande said the government had increased the 2008/2009 FSP from K185 billion to K493 billion.
Labels: FARMERS, FERTILIZER, NAPSSFZ, ROGERS PHIRI
posted by MrK @ 6:07 AM
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