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(LUSAKATIMES) Zambia: Decentralisation in input distribution bearing fruit – MACO

Zambia: Decentralisation in input distribution bearing fruit – MACO

The Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MACO) says the Decentralisation Policy is bearing fruits as evidenced by the successful distribution of agricultural inputs under the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) countrywide.

MACO Director for Cooperatives Development, Mulemwa Sitwala said the decentralisation of FISP and involvement of local leadership in the distribution of farming inputs has lessened the challenges faced under the previous Fertiliser Support Programm (FSP).

Mrs Sitwala said this today when she presented a report on the status and Impact of FISP Monitoring and evaluation of Lusaka Province to Provincial Permanent Secretary, Stephen Bwalya.

She explained that the formation of Camp Agricultural Committees who are now handling the selection of Small Scale Farmers has seen a remarkable reduction in complaints from beneficiaries unlike before under the District Agricultural Committees.

Mrs Sitwala also said that the general crop outlook in the province is good despite the erratic rainfall pattern experienced in the province lately.

She added that under FISP, government has devised mechanisms that have enabled the province to receive appropriate seed varieties particularly for drought prone areas such as Kavalamanja in Luangwa District.

And Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary, Stephen Bwalya said government has placed Agriculture development as a key to economic development in the country.

Mr Bwalya has since urged youths to seriously engage in farming as a business to make a meaningful contribution towards national food security at both household and national level.

Lusaka Province has received a total of 148,000 x 50kg of both Urea and D-Compound fertilizer and 370 metric tonnes of seed for 37,000 small scale farmers for the 2009/2010 farming season.

ZANIS

Labels: DECENTRALIZATION, FISP, FSP

posted by MrK @ 2:59 AM