Maravi

(TIMES) Small-scale farmers to get fertiliser early

Small-scale farmers to get fertiliser early
By Brian Hatyoka

THE National Association of Peasant and Small-Scale Farmers of Zambia (NAPSSFZ) will start distributing fertiliser to its members next month under its new Munda Credit Scheme with Zanaco.

National coordinator Moses Kasonkomona said the association would distribute about 55,000 bags of fertiliser in June compared to 23,000 bags of the commodity distributed during the last farming season.

The development is a big boost to farmers because of the perennial hicupps that characterise input distribution in the country whereby some parts of the country receive fertiliser late in the season, rendering the commodity irrelevant to the intended purpose.

In addition, under the fertiliser support programme, some intended recipients have not received their allocations in some seasons owing to some administrative failures

In an interview in Chisamba, Mr Kasonkomona said the early distribution of fertiliser would enable peasant and small-scale farmers start preparing early for this year’s farming season.

Mr Kasonkomoma said the increase in quantities of fertiliser being distributed to farmers would supplement Government efforts of boosting growth in the agricultural sector.

He urged farmers to start paying for fertiliser in order to receive the commodity early.

The New Munda Credit Scheme is a model developed by the NAPSSFZ in partnership with Zanaco to promote sustainable agriculture credit, production and marketing while complementing Government’s efforts in input supply to peasant farmers in the country.

And Mr Kasonkomoma said his association would soon start buying maize from farmers at the recently announced floor price of K65,000 for a 50 kilogramme bag.
He said the announced floor price was good and would protect farmers from maize traders who were buying the commodity at depressed prices.

Labels: FSP, MOSES KASONKOMONA, NAPSSFZ

posted by MrK @ 4:32 PM