Maravi

ZCF urges review of inputs distribution system

ZCF urges review of inputs distribution system
By Gift Chanda
Tue 13 Dec. 2011, 11:59 CAT

DISTRIBUTION of farming inputs should commence at the beginning of each crop marketing season to prevent delays in their delivery, say the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF).

And ZCF says the government should not wait for the opening of the next crop marketing season to start putting up additional grain storage facilities. In an interview, ZFC director general James Chirwa called for a review of the input distribution system to align it to the crop marketing season.

He said this would ensure that farmers receive the farming inputs on time.

Several farmers recently complained of not receiving inputs under the government-run Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) due to delays and the suspension of the distribution exercise by the companies contracted for the job.

"I feel the distribution of inputs should be synchronised with the crop marketing season to an extent where farming inputs begin to be distributed immediately the crop marketing season is opened," Chirwa said.

"This will prevent the current challenges farmers are facing."

Chirwa urged the government to ensure that farming inputs are at the farmers' doorstep two months before the planting season.

"We hope that in the coming year, this proposal we are putting forward of combining these two activities, farming input distribution and crop marketing, will be implemented so that we don't have these repeated challenges of delayed
inputs," he said.

And Chirwa said the government should also ensure that adequate measures for the next crop marketing season are in place.

He said the construction of additional grain storage facilities should not wait for next crop marketing season.

"We have to ensure that we do not have maize going to waste next year. We urge the government to use this time to plan adequately," he said.

Meanwhile, ZCF last week signed a US$ 1.5 million (about K7.5bn) deal with Nyiombo Investments on fertiliser distribution to smallholder farmers countrywide.

The deal would see the federation utilise its infrastructure across the country to distribute Urea and D-Compound fertiliser to its over 4,500 members at reduced prices.

Chirwa said the project, a supplement on the existing Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) by government, would see farmers buy the subsided fertiliser from Nyiombo not beyond K190,000 per 50 kg bag.

"The Farmer Input Support Programme only gives four bags, two top dressing and two basal dressing plus seed. We realised that the need of the members is not four bags but that is what the government can give," said Chirwa.

"So we needed to find a way of providing the shortfall; hence our partnering with Nyiombo to supply us with fertiliser so that we can sell it to the members at a reduced price. We have looked at prices that will not go beyond K190,000 per 50 kg bag. This is bearing in mind that the fertiliser that is selling in the provinces has gone to as much as K235,000 per 50 kg bag."

Labels: FISP, ZCF

posted by MrK @ 2:44 PM