Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) RB launches National fertilizer distribution exercise

RB launches National fertilizer distribution exercise
Sunday, August 23, 2009, 8:24

President Rupiah Banda has launched the National Fertiliser Distribution exercise with a call on farmers in Northern province to produce more this year.

President Banda said government was aware of the challenges in the fertilizer distribution in recent years which he said had made it difficult for many farmers throughout the country to access the commodity.

Mr. Banda also noted that some unscrupulous business persons were tricking most peasant farmers in the country to sell the commodity cheaply.

He said to prevent this; his administration has put in place measures such as formation of Camp Fertiliser Committees (CFCs) to ensure that the commodity reaches its intended beneficiaries throughout the country.

“Government has decided that fertilizer would be distributed through the Camp Fertiliser Committees instead of the District Fertiliser Committees (DFCs),” the President said.

He said government has this time around decided to incorporate religious leaders in the CFCs to help monitor and ensure that the fertilizer reaches the intended farmers.

He said this way, the church leaders would be able to ensure that there are no mal-practices in the distribution of the commodity.

“I believe this will help improve morality and distribution of fertilizer to our farmers,” he said.

Mr. Banda said the price of the commodity has been pegged at K15, 000 only saying this should encourage farmers to easily buy the commodity on top of the four packs given to farmers under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).

He challenged the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to see to it that the commodity reached its end users who are the farmers.

And President Banda says through government’s Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), Northern Province has recorded an increase in agriculture production saying the province became the fourth maize producer after Eastern, Central and Southern Provinces.

He said this was as a result of increased production and FSP in Northern Province. He disclosed that during the 2008/2009 farming season, government distributed 80, 000 metric tones of fertilizer to the provinces with Northern Province receiving 11,300 metric tons.

He said as a result of this, the province recorded a significant increase of maize production in the last farming season.

He ordered the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to purchase all the maize from the province.

The President informed the provincial administration that government had increased the FSP by 2.5 percent for the 2009/2010 farming season meaning that 15,900 metric tons had been given from last year’s 1193.5 metric tons.

And Northern Province Minister John Chinyanta said his administration was happy that the province had taken the centre stage of the fertilizer distribution exercise.

Mr. Chinyanta said the province was well placed to continue receiving government support which he said had helped the area to record a bumper harvest.

He said now that the province had been receiving fertilizer through the FSP, it was assuring that the province will yet again record a bumper harvest during the 2009/2010 farming season.

And Agriculture and Cooperative minister Brian Chituwo acknowledged the hard work farmers in the province were doing.

Dr Chituwo said at the same function that the province was among leading provinces that had positively contributed to the country’s bumper harvest of 1.8 million metric tons of grain.

He disclosed that to encourage further production, his ministry would procure motorbikes for extension officers to reach farmers throughout the country.

And Mr. Banda said Zambian Coffee has generated a lot of interest internationally saying 75 percent of the commodity is grown in Northern Province.

The President has since directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to engage commercial banks and ensure that money was made available for the resumption of operations of the Kasama Coffee plantation.

He also said government, through the newly formed Livestock and Fisheries ministry would soon establish livestock breeding centers beginning with the Mbesuma Ranch in Kasama.

“The Mbesuma Ranch can breed 3000 animals. Government has produced funds to ensure the purchase of the animals for the ranch,” he added.

He said Government also intends to open up other ranches at Kalungwishi and other places in the province to ensure that the country becomes well stocked with beef products for local consumption and exports

ZANIS

Labels: CFCs, FERTILIZER, FSP, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 1:29 PM