THE Government has bought 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser for the 2009/2010 farming season under the fertiliser support programme (FSP), which has been renamed the farmers input support programme (FISP), Agriculture Minister Brian Chituwo (pictured) announced yesterday.Announcing the input distribution modalities under the revised FISP for the 2009/2010 farming season, Dr Chituwo said out of the K435 million allocation, the ministry had procured 50,000 tonnes of D compound and another 50,000 tonnes of Urea.
He said the procurement and distribution of 5,341 tonnes of hybrid maize was being finalised.
The supply has been contracted to Omnia Small Scale Limited and Nyiombo Investments who between them would supply 85,000 tonnes, while the 15,000 tonnes of D compound fertiliser will be supplied by Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia to districts in Southern, Central, Copperbelt and Eastern provinces, he said.
He said under this years FISP, 534,000 farmers would be supported from the 106,838 tonnes of fertiliser and 5,341 seed available.
He said the increased number of beneficiaries was because of the reduction in the amounts for the packs and the increased quantities procured.
Dr Chituwo said under the revised programme, the distribution would continue to be through cooperative societies and farmers organisations.
The minister said six maize suppliers, based on the farmers reference and choice, would supply the maize seed.
Farmers would this year be contributing K50,000 per bag of fertiliser while the Government was meeting the rest of the purchase price of the input.
I wish to announce that the farmer contribution per 50kg bag of fertiliser (basal or top dressing) in the 2009/2010 season will be K50,000 across the country, he said.
Dr Chituwo said the programme incorporated the creation of the camp agricultural committees, which include representatives of traditional leaders and community-based organisations.
The programme will only target small-scale farmers and avoid targeting the same farmers supported by the sister food security pack programme, which is implemented under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, he said.
Dr Chituwo said, in future, the input procurement would be modified to encourage the participation of many firms in the distribution exercise.
The change, he said, was intended to impact positively by making prices competitive.
In a related development, Dr Chituwo refuted claims by MMD Copperbelt provincial chairperson, Joseph Chilambwe that farmers were being asked to produce title deeds for them to access inputs under the programme.
The minister said the statement by Mr Chilambwe was not true and urged leaders to always consult local offices on such matters.
He said Mr Chilambwe might have misunderstood the on-going registration to ascertain genuine beneficiaries.
Times of Zambia
Post published in: Economy