Maravi

Caritas calls for sanity in inputs distribution

Caritas calls for sanity in inputs distribution
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 28 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT

CARITAS Zambia says there is need for sanity in the distribution of farming inputs and crop marketing system in the country. Caritas programmes officer for Chipata John Zulu said the government's introduction of the Farmer Input Support Porgramme (FISP) and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to handle the distribution of inputs and storage of grain respectively was good but there were numerous challenges in the process.

Zulu said the FISP was aimed at benefiting small-scale farmers but they were in most cases deprived as senior personnel in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives usually benefited from the programme. He said even those contracted by FRA as agents in the maize marketing exercise did not represent the farmers effectively.

“These and many more issues are clear indications that though FISP and FRA markets are intended to benefit the poor farmer some unknown beneficiaries are the ones benefiting more indirectly,” said Zulu during a forum dubbed The farmer in the 2010/2011 farming season at Chipata's Crystal Lodge on Friday.

And Chipata District commissioner Moses Nyirenda said the people who were causing problems in the FISP and FRA should be reported to investigative wings.
Nyirenda said most genuine farmers had been paid for the crops they supplied to FRA.

He said there was more than K50 billion at the bank meant for farmers' payment.
Nyirenda said all the farmers would soon get their dues.
One of the participants, Agrippa Zulu said the country's agriculture policy had created many problems for the farmers .

Zulu said it was sad that FRA payments were not done on time and the location of the markets was not ideal for the farmers.

Another resident, Never Pakapaka challenged the government to put the agricultural sector in order.

Chipata District Farmers Association programmes officer Getrude Nalwendo said the association was instrumental in ensuring that the marketing centres were increased from seven last year to 23 this year.

Labels: CARITAS, FISP, FRA, JOHN ZULU

posted by MrK @ 4:18 PM