Maravi

Agro extension services have collapsed, charges chief Macha

Agro extension services have collapsed, charges chief Macha
Written by Charles Mangwato in Choma
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:02:06 AM

CHIEF Macha of Choma has charged that agricultural extension services have collapsed, thereby delinking peasant farmers in his area from government initiatives on agriculture.

And Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe has conceded that the evident lack of coordination between farmers and government structures was not only embarrassing but also responsible for the wastage of the subsidised farming inputs under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).

Speaking at his palace on Monday when Munkombwe called on him, chief Macha said government extension services in the area had totally collapsed.

“As a result, farmers are planting uncertified seed because there is no one to offer technical advice,” chief Macha said.

He noted that there was currently no linkage and coordination between producers and the government.

“This is manifested in the current shortcomings of the Fertiliser Support Programme which is benefiting people who are not farmers but crooks bent on re-selling the subsidised inputs,” he told Munkombwe who was accompanied by some government officers, including provincial agricultural coordinator Dr Adrina Nansungwe who are assessing the performance of this farming season in the province.

Chief Macha said it was unfortunate that there was evident lack of coordination between the government and peasant farmers, yet the government had structures at grass-root level which could be used to deliver innovative farming methods.

“We do not have agricultural extension officers here to advise on what crops to grow in different types of soils. How can we succeed in farming without technical advice from agricultural experts?” chief Macha asked.

He said while appreciating the government-sponsored FSP in addressing food insecurity, the programme required redesigning.

Chief Macha warned that unless the government redesigned the FSP, the programme would remain beneficial to ‘criminals’.

“Genuine farmers don’t get seed and fertiliser from the FSP because criminals have found loopholes and are accessing the commodity and reselling at inflated prices, incapacitating actual producers,” he said.

Chief Macha said it was embarrassing for the country to be importing maize when it had the capacity to produce adequate food crops.

“Government should come up with deliberate and workable policies that will promote food production. I do not see why this nation should be importing maize when we have the capacity to produce,” said chief Macha.

“This year, seed and fertiliser was given to farmers in December when rains started in November. What type of planning is this?”

But Munkombwe assured chief Macha that the government would address the issues raised over poor agricultural extension services.

He said there had been a lot of cheating and wastage of fertiliser under the FSP partly because the local traditional leader was not directly involved in monitoring its use among beneficiaries.

Munkombwe said he was visiting farmers’ fields to personally see for himself if the government-sponsored FSP was working according to expectations.

“When you are minister, you must identify yourself with people’s needs and in this province, the key is agriculture,” said Munkombwe.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, CHIEF MACHA, DANIEL MUNKOMBWE

posted by MrK @ 10:02 AM