MONZE FARMERS START FISP PREPS
Written by Millennium on September 7, 2019
ANDREW MUKOMA writes
@SunZambian
FARMERS in Monze have started depositing money in banks to access farming inputs under the Farmer Input and Support Program (FISP), in preparation for the 2019-2020 farming season.
Monze District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Justine Ngosa told the Sun that 28, 590 farmers were targeted with about 365 having already made their payments.
Mr Ngosa said that Monze was one of 40 districts in Zambia with the highest number of beneficiaries from the programme, because it was a drought prone area.
He underscored Government’s commitment to ensuring that farmers survived the droughts, adding that FISP helped farmers to access irrigation equipment and diversify into growing drought resistant crops such as soya beans, sorghum, and millet.
“We are one of 40 districts still benefiting from FISP which gives our farmers access to irrigation equipment, drought resistant seeds and veterinary drugs so they can diversify their agriculture activities and survive,” Mr Ngosa said.
He noted that the district reached 99 per cent of its targeted farmers last year, adding that he was confident all targeted farmers would be reached this year.
However, Mr Ngosa said the exercise started off on a slow note, explaining that power cuts and mandatory sim card registration had slowed down the payment process which started last Friday.
Mr Ngosa said the payment exercise which was flagged off on Tuesday, required farmers to pay K 400 to access farming inputs such as seeds, fertilizer and veterinary drugs.
Meanwhile, Mr Ngosa said there was urgent need to improve on the delivery of climatic data to farmers to allow them prepare for drastic changes in weather patterns.
He observed that farmers in the district lacked vital information on weather forecasts to enable them prepare for farming activities.
Mr Ngosa said that if readily available climatic data would enable farmers pick up the right variety of seeds, plant at the right time and even know when to harvest.
“There is urgent need to improve on the delivery of climatic data to our farmers. This information allows them to prepare for drastic changes in weather patterns,” Mr Ngosa said
