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
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Small-scale farmers describe 2008 inputs distribution as ‘worst’ ever
Written by Fridah Zinyama, Gillian Namungala and George Zulu
Friday, January 02, 2009 3:15:35 PM
NATIONAL Association of Peasant and Small Scale Farmers of Zambia (NAPSFZ) has described this year's inputs distribution exercise as the worst since the fertiliser support programme (FSP) was implemented.
And Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) president Webster Shamfuti has warned that he will take to court co-operatives that will be caught selling farming inputs under FSP.
In an interview, NAPSFZ president Rogers Phiri said this year’s fertiliser distribution exercise was the worst as the vulnerable farmers who are the intended beneficiaries had not accessed the inputs.
“The FSP this year has not reached the intended beneficiaries because of poor distribution mechanisms which have been implemented this year,” he said. “I fear that small scale farmers’ contribution to the nation’s food basket will be negatively affected this year.”
Phiri complained that most of the co-operatives that had applied for farming inputs had not been given the seeds and fertiliser.
“Even when the inputs are given to the farmers, they are in reduced quantities which are not enough for the farmers,” he said.
Phiri said agricultural production in Zambia would be negatively affected if the implementation of the programme continued in the same manner in the coming years.
“To avoid a reduction in contribution by small scale farmers, government should ensure that they revise the FSP and put in place distribution mechanisms that will work to the benefit of the farmers,” he said.
And Phiri added that this year’s food production would be further negatively affected due to high prices of fertiliser and rising interest rates which were making farmers operate beyond their budgets.
And Shamfuti who expressed sadness at the rampant reports of theft of farming inputs however, said statements being issued were not accompanied by facts.
“Let’s not turn into a talking industry. We must act so those with facts should bring them forward so that they are taken to court,” he said.
Shamfuti who said co-operatives had so many branches said it was difficult to identify co-operatives that were involved in theft of farming inputs.
“We have branches in co-operatives, primary society, district and provincial so when they talk of co-operatives, let them specify and name the co-operatives,” Shamfuti said.
He, however, said investigations were underway in areas were reports of theft had been reported.
Shamfuti said reports had been received from Choma, Monze and some areas in Central provinces on the alleged theft of subsidised faming inputs.
And authorities in Monze district have expressed surprise at the number of small-scale farmers claiming to have been left out of the government supported FSP despite having paid for the inputs.
Acting Monze district commissioner Holland Musanka said he was surprised at the high number of farmers flocking to his office to register their disappointment for not having accessed inputs under FSP.
"Some farmers have been coming to my office complaining that they have been left out from the FSP beneficiaries. But again these farmers have already made payments for the inputs, so I have asked for a thorough report from the DACO's office on how the distribution exercise was carried out because the government had allocated enough inputs to carter for the farmers who had registered and subsequently shortlisted to benefit," said Musanka.
And Bweengwa UPND member of parliament Highvie Hamududu has threatened to organise a peaceful demonstration in protest against the non-availability of farming inputs in the district.
Hamududu said it was unfortunate that the government had allowed a non-workable system for the distribution of inputs.
Yesterday, agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo also expressed disappointment at reports of thefts of farming inputs in some areas.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, FERTILIZER, FSP, HIGHVIE HAMUDUDU, HOLLAND MUSANKA, MONZE, NAPSSFZ, ROGERS PHIRI, WEBSTER SHAMFUTI, ZCF
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Farmers body calls for FSP review
By Florence Bupe
Tuesday September 23, 2008 [04:00]
THE National Association for Peasant and Small-scale farmers of Zambia has called for a review of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP)’s distribution system. Association president Rogers Phiri said the government should consider changing the criteria for selecting beneficiaries in order to make it more effective.
“There are clear directions that need to be adhered to in the fertiliser distribution process, but there are often flaws with the current system,” he said.
Phiri also suggested that the government should have considered increasing the number of beneficiaries under the FSP instead of increasing fertilizer subsidies from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.
“We understand that government’s decision to up fertiliser subsidies form 50 per cent to 75 per cent was well intended, but we would have been happier if they considered increasing the number of beneficiaries, because there are still so many poor farmers who are in need of fertiliser support,” he said.
And Phiri has said he does not see the increase in the floor price of maize by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as a political campaign strategy.
FRA last week announced the increase in the price of maize from K45,000 to K55,000 per 50 kilogramme bag.
“We welcome the increase in the floor price of maize, because this is something that we have been pushing for over the last four or five years. The increase is simply a response to our calls as farmers,” Phiri said. “FRA just had to offer a better price, as a lot of other players on the market were offering higher prices than that of FRA.”
Labels: FSP, NAPSSFZ
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Farmers laud govt for increasing fertiliser subsidy
By Fridah Zinyama
Thursday August 14, 2008 [04:00]
THE National Association for Peasant and Small-Scale Farmers of Zambia has said the government's decision to increase the fertiliser subsidy for the 2008/2009 farming season will help increase food security in the country.
In a statement, Association president Rogers Phiri noted that there were concerns among stakeholders that the initial K185 billion that the government had allocated for the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) was not enough to ensure good maize production in the face of the food crisis the world is experiencing.
Phiri stated that it was gratifying that the government had recognised the effects of the rising costs of inputs on agricultural production in the country.
"It is encouraging to see that all stakeholders in the agriculture sector are working together to ensure an increase in food production in the country," he stated.
Phiri added that the small- scale farmers had also come up with an initiative meant to add value to government's effort towards improving food production in the country.
Phiri stated that the New Munda Credit Scheme that the national association had created would target about 20,000 peasant and small-scale farmers for the 2008/9 farming season.
Finance minister Ng'andu Magande said the government had increased the 2008/2009 FSP from K185 billion to K493 billion.
Labels: FARMERS, FERTILIZER, NAPSSFZ, ROGERS PHIRI
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ZNCB disburses K4bn to peasant farmers
By Joan Chirwa
Monday May 19, 2008 [04:00]
ZAMBIA National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) last farming season disbursed a total of K4 billion to peasant and small-scale farmers in the country through the new Munda Credit Scheme. During the launch of the new Munda Credit Scheme commodity prices for the 2008/2009 marketing season in Lusaka last Thursday, ZNCB senior manager for credit, Cliff Ndhlovu, said the bank would continue to provide cheaper financing for the agriculture sector, based on the farmers’ repayment record.
“The farmers should endeavor to pay back loans for us to continue to lend to the sector,” said Ndhlovu.
And National Association for Peasant and Small-Scale Farmers of Zambia (NAPSSFZ) announced commodity prices for this marketing season, pegging a 50 kilogramme bag of grade A maize at K42,000.
This is the first time in Zambia’s history that a private entity has set up an agricultural commodity price for about 20,000 peasant and small-scale farmers in the country, who are members of the credit scheme set up almost two years ago.
The maize price announced under the new Munda Credit Scheme, is slightly higher than last year’s FRA floor price of K38,000 per 50 kilogramme bag.
Soya bean prices have been pegged at K90,000 per 50 kilogramme bag; K40,000 and K90,000 for a 50 kilogramme of sunflower and polished rice respectively.
NAPSSFZ president Rodgers Phiri said small-scale farmers in Zambia could double food production with enhanced financing to the agriculture sector.
“It is now technically possible for Zambia to double or even treble food production in Zambia under the new Munda Credit Scheme of ZNCB. More jobs in the agriculture sector can be created through the revitalisation of the agriculture credit systems in Zambia,” said Phiri.
And NAPSSFZ’s major buyer ZDENAKIE Limited managing director George Liacopoulos said the company and the association agreed on a cost reflective price, which would give farmers a fair return on their investment.
The government is in the process of announcing commodity prices for the 2008/2009 marketing season as consultations are still being held among stakeholders.
Labels: FARMERS, NAPSSFZ, ZNCB
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Small scale farmers call for extension of ASP
By Joan Chirwa
Tuesday April 29, 2008 [04:00]
PEASANT and small-scale farmers in Zambia have called for an extension of the Agriculture Support Programme (ASP) for the next two years. In a petition to President Mwanawasa and signed by a total of 1,451 farmers from Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern provinces, they sought an extension of the ASP in its present form to allow the New Munda Credit Scheme to mature and become sustainable as a decisive factor in poverty reduction.
“The New Munda Credit Scheme offers peasant farmers low cost finance and does not require assets as security which was demanded in previous agriculture credit schemes with commercial banks.
Indeed, it is a solution to the so much sought for agriculture credit which has been one of the most serious constraints for the small-scale farmers in the country,” said Rodger Phiri, president of the National Association for Peasant and Small Scale Farmers of Zambia (NAPSSFZ).
“The phasing out of the ASP by June this year will be detrimental to New Munda Credit Scheme which still needs to fine-tune and consolidate the credit management approaches which are a critical factor in the continued partnership with Zanaco.
The petition to President Mwanawasa is to ask him to save the New Munda Credit Scheme and to allow it to mature in collaboration with ASP.”
The New Munda Credit Scheme is a model developed by the NAPSSFZ in partnership with the Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc, to promote sustainable agriculture credit, production and marketing while complementing government’s efforts in agriculture input supply to peasant farmers in the country.
The ASP, a Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) funded project operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives.
It has trained beneficiaries of the New Munda Credit Scheme in farming as a business and has built the capacity of the association in the management of the credit scheme.
Labels: AGRICULTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM, MWANAWASA, NAPSSFZ, NEW MUNDA CREDIT SCHEME, SMEs
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