Farming inputs have been misapplied - Rupiah
Farming inputs have been misapplied - RupiahWritten by Chibaula Silwamba in Mkushi
Thursday, March 26, 2009 6:13:16 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has admitted that farming inputs have been misapplied under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
And farmers have complained to President Rupiah Banda that Zesco’s proposed 66 per cent increment of electricity tariff is excessive.
Speaking at the meeting with farmers at Mkushi Country Club after he flagged off the harvest of irrigated early maize and toured some farms in Mkushi Farm Bloc on Wednesday, President Banda acknowledged that the FSP was poorly supervised and needed to be revised.
“Government is not happy with the management of this well-intended programme [FSP], because of poor supervision which has resulted in the misapplication and late distribution of farming inputs,” President Banda said. He said the government was, therefore, reviewing the operations of the FSP to ensure correct targeting and timely supply and distribution of farming inputs for improved productivity.
“This year, I will not accept any excuse for late delivery of farming inputs and for wrong targeting,” President Banda declared.
He said government was concerned about the high fertilizer prices and would like to see a price reduction and stabilization of the commodity following the lowering of oil and fertilizer prices on the world market.
“The procurement, transportation and country-wide distribution of fertilizer will therefore be made earlier than in the past to ensure the country source cheap fertilizer,” President Banda said. “This will help reduce unnecessary disparities in fertilizer prices.”
He said his government appreciated the contribution of commercial farming to national food security through the production of irrigated early maize, which has increased over the years from 25, 000 metric tonnes to about 100, 000 metric tonnes expected this year.
President Banda also said he had been informed that Zambia had in excess of 80, 000 metric tonnes of wheat at various storage facilities.
“Wheat output has risen from 30, 000 metric tonnes in the 1990s to 190, 000 metric tonnes in 2008 against an estimated annual national consumption of 210, 000metric tones. I am also aware that there is need to support our wheat farmers to ensure that their produce is sold on timely basis to enable them obtain financing for the next crop,” he said. “I would like to urge financial institutions to support the wheat farmers so as to ensure that we do not lose the production momentum.”
He said he had been informed by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) about the problems arising from excessive wheat imports.
President Banda, therefore, directed agriculture and cooperatives minister Dr Brian Chituwo and law enforcement agencies to immediately resolve the problem of illegal importation of wheat.
He said the government was determined to expand the hectorage under irrigation by about 10, 000 hectares per year.
“To achieve this, government has allocated K56.5 billion in this year’s budget for irrigation,” he said. “This year the supply of the irrigated early maize crop is critical to ensuring that there is stability in the supply and price of our staple food crop.”
President Banda said the government was concerned about the performance of the livestock sector especially cattle whose population had been heavily decimated.
“It is for this reason that I have created the livestock and fisheries division in the ministry of agriculture and cooperative,” said President Banda. “The government has increased funding to the livestock sector.”
And Hunt expressed displeasure at the proposed increment of electricity tariffs.
“Your Excellency, we hear that Zesco want to increase tariffs by as much as 60 per cent. We think this is excessive,” Hunt said.
He said access to affordable loans was needed to support irrigation farming.
“In the last five years, Mkushi has invested millions of dollars in irrigation equipment and storage. It costs K27 million to put one hectare under irrigation,” he said.
He said farmers had not cleared their loans from the 2008 wheat crop because of low prices and imports hence banks now considered wheat farming as a high risk.
“There will be definite reduction in wheat grown this year. This goes against the principles of self sufficiency,” said Hunt. “The creation of a wheat fund/support programme is essential.”
Earlier in his brief discussions with farmers whose farms he visited during his field tour, President Banda said he was happy that Zambians were embarking on farming.
“I am very impressed with young farmers like you,” President Banda told Joseph Daka, owner of Damust Farm. “Most Zambians want to live in town. It’s nice that we have a crop of Zambians who want to live at the farm.”
ZNFU president Jervis Zimba told President Banda that there was a generation of young Zambians who understand agriculture.
President Banda said: “That is good for us; there is [Democratic Republic of] Congo next door and they need food and if we organize ourselves properly even all these pilfering on the borders will not be there, we will be exporting properly and legally.”
Mkushi South member of parliament told Sydney Chisanga told President Banda to help construct dams for irrigation farming.
Chisanga said the farmers could engage in fish framing.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FERTILIZER, FSP, RUPIAH BANDA, ZESCO
posted by MrK @ 6:13 PM
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